Hi all,
I could really be doing with some advice so I hope you all can help. Apologies in advance for the long ramble but it creates the right picture for you all.
I am British living in India. I have adopted a street dog, a young puppy, age unknown. At least 5 weeks old, possibly 7-8. He was part of a litter which lived on a street I walked by every day. At first there were 5 puppies. Slowly they all died. Finally there were two. One had a huge ulcer and infection and was unresponsive and I didn't think would make it. The other is this little one I've taken home. He was emaciated, dehydrated and extremely weak. He is 6 inches tall and weighed less than one and a half kilos. I found a local vet... and I mean local, not western standards at all... managed to get some flea and tick spray. I pulled over 300 ticks from his poor wee body. They gave me wormer liquid, which contains febantel and pyrantel. I gave him this at the dosage recommended. However no worms have been pooed out. He ate a lot on the first day but this was oats and water, because it's all I had, and he enjoyed it. The second day he was more alert and starting to follow me with his eyes as i walked around and showing some interest in his environment. I started giving him dog food for puppies which I bought. But then he vomited this up some hours later. The third day (today) he is running around, enjoys playing with newspaper and the dust brush, but he is still very wobbly. Activity wise he is getting more alert and active each day. However, he has not as far as I am aware (and I am with him constantly except when I'm asleep) taken anything to drink from the water bowl. I think he has never actually drunk anything before... I think he was feeding 100% from his mother. I have been giving him oats and water with a little milk, and trying this puppy food which I soak. But he still seems unable to co-ordinate himself to eat solid food, and he is vomiting this puppy food up after eating. Also today, I noticed his appetite is not as good, he doesn't want the oats anymore. I tried fish. I tried boiled rice blended with water and a tiny bit of milk. I tried cheese. Anything. But he's not really interested. I'm worried. Additionally because he has been vomiting and not drinking I am worried about dehydration... so I have been using a pipette to give him a little bit of water every now and then. Basically, I am concerned why he is vomiting this dog food up, and his appetite is gone... but in himself he seems much chirpier today. Secondly I cannot believe he doesn't have worms... he is a street dog! So any advice on the appetite / food / not drinking would be greatly appreciated. And advice as to when I can give another dose of wormer.... I think I may have underdosed him because I didn't have scales at the time. Thirdly, I want to get him vaccinated ASAP... how soon? I'd greatly value your opinion, because the vet that I went to was about as helpful as a chocolate teapot! Thank you all in advance.
Dominique and "Little Dog"
I could really be doing with some advice so I hope you all can help. Apologies in advance for the long ramble but it creates the right picture for you all.
I am British living in India. I have adopted a street dog, a young puppy, age unknown. At least 5 weeks old, possibly 7-8. He was part of a litter which lived on a street I walked by every day. At first there were 5 puppies. Slowly they all died. Finally there were two. One had a huge ulcer and infection and was unresponsive and I didn't think would make it. The other is this little one I've taken home. He was emaciated, dehydrated and extremely weak. He is 6 inches tall and weighed less than one and a half kilos. I found a local vet... and I mean local, not western standards at all... managed to get some flea and tick spray. I pulled over 300 ticks from his poor wee body. They gave me wormer liquid, which contains febantel and pyrantel. I gave him this at the dosage recommended. However no worms have been pooed out. He ate a lot on the first day but this was oats and water, because it's all I had, and he enjoyed it. The second day he was more alert and starting to follow me with his eyes as i walked around and showing some interest in his environment. I started giving him dog food for puppies which I bought. But then he vomited this up some hours later. The third day (today) he is running around, enjoys playing with newspaper and the dust brush, but he is still very wobbly. Activity wise he is getting more alert and active each day. However, he has not as far as I am aware (and I am with him constantly except when I'm asleep) taken anything to drink from the water bowl. I think he has never actually drunk anything before... I think he was feeding 100% from his mother. I have been giving him oats and water with a little milk, and trying this puppy food which I soak. But he still seems unable to co-ordinate himself to eat solid food, and he is vomiting this puppy food up after eating. Also today, I noticed his appetite is not as good, he doesn't want the oats anymore. I tried fish. I tried boiled rice blended with water and a tiny bit of milk. I tried cheese. Anything. But he's not really interested. I'm worried. Additionally because he has been vomiting and not drinking I am worried about dehydration... so I have been using a pipette to give him a little bit of water every now and then. Basically, I am concerned why he is vomiting this dog food up, and his appetite is gone... but in himself he seems much chirpier today. Secondly I cannot believe he doesn't have worms... he is a street dog! So any advice on the appetite / food / not drinking would be greatly appreciated. And advice as to when I can give another dose of wormer.... I think I may have underdosed him because I didn't have scales at the time. Thirdly, I want to get him vaccinated ASAP... how soon? I'd greatly value your opinion, because the vet that I went to was about as helpful as a chocolate teapot! Thank you all in advance.
Dominique and "Little Dog"