Anyone got a Yorkie?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I'm taking care of a Yorkie for a friend while he goes on vacation and last night I discovered she has fleas.

I haven't had a dog in a few years but I've never had a teenie tiny dog like this one. I gave her a bath last night with some Hartz shampoo that he gave me that is supposed to kill fleas but today I found 5 more fleas.

How many fleas can hide on a little 1 pound dog? I thought I got them all last night but I keep doing every hour flea checks and find another one.

I have 2 cats and I certainly don't want a flea infestation in my home.

She's got a flea collar on but that isn't doing squat.

I don't want to poison the little dog so I'm afraid to use any Pyrethrins or anything strong.

Any suggestions? I have her for 10 days.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Hartz flea shampoo does not do a good job. The flea collars are not good either. Take the dog to the vet and get aadvantage,? It is very easy to apply and the ticks are gone!! Just bill your "good friend" :rolleyes shaggy

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Hartz flea products really are worthless. Like Shaggy, we use K9 Advantix. Vets recommend Frontline, but our dog managed to get fleas using it.

Bayer K9 Advantix flea, tick and mosquito control for good pet health

BUUUUUTTT...you do need to speak to the dog's vet or your friend before you do the Advantix. If the dog has already had Frontline or some other product applied for the month, there's a toxicity concern. And where does the dog live that he's getting fleas in December? Outdoor fleas usually take the winter months off.

Good luck! I know how stressful this can be....

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

The dog weighs ONE POUND? Is it a puppy?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I don't want to go to the vet? My vet charges $100 a visit.

My friend is unemployed right now so he'd probably have a fit if I took the dog and billed him.

Do any of the stuff you find at the pet Superstores work? Like the spot treatments they sell over the counter or is Advantage the only thing that works. I used to use Advantage on my dog but I don't have any in a dose for such a small animal.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

The dog weighs ONE POUND? Is it a puppy?

No she is a year old. I think she is a toy Yorkie but she is not a teacup.
She is about a foot long with big pointy ears. She is just so cute, I feel so bad for her with this flea thing. And he didn't even know she had fleas.
He couldn't see them but I have a keen eye for them having had dogs all my life.

We live in Miami, FL believe it or not and I guess it's flea season year round down here. Maybe she picked some up when I walked her this morning.
I'll check her later on after we do the 2nd walk.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

We live in Miami, FL believe it or not and I guess it's flea season year round down here.

Oh, yeah. I guess it is!

You do need to know if she's had any flea treatment other than the collar in the past month or so before you start putting Advantix on.

Most vets would not charge you for a call to talk about flea treatments--can you just call your own vet to ask for advice?

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

My DD went to Petsmart and they have a "Banfield Hospital" with vet. They sold her a single application because the dog is going to get bigger. No vet charge just the $13 for the stuff (I forget if it was advandix, frontline etc)

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I have successfully used Frontline to get rid of fleas, the one time I forgot to start to use it preventatively at the start of the season. I think you could probably call her or her vet and ask when the last treatment was, and ask the vet about what to use. Frontline probably also has a hotline to help with size and toxicity questions.

Pup sounds cute!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Why not call the dog's owner and ask him what he wants done?

It would give him a chance to apologize for dumping a flea-infested mutt on you.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Believe it or not, Avon's Skin So Soft really does a number on ticks and shouldn't hurt the dog at all. In the past we've used it on our dogs with very good results. I'm not sure if it the oil in the product that coats the fleas and suffocate them or what but, when we had to use it, we always ended up with a bathtub full of dead fleas, a flea free dog and a dog with a nice soft coat.

One of our Vets use to carry it and recommend it. Most will tell you that the ph balance if for humans and not dogs, thus it shouldn't be used on dogs. Just the same, when I was a kid all our dogs got bathed with regular human shampoo and none wear any worse for the wear.

Now if you're worried about the small size of a Yorkie and don't want to take chances poisoning the dog and your Vet charges $100 just for you to walk through the door, then find a groomer and have them give the dog a flea bath. Our local chain pet stores will do this for around $15 or $20. The only problem with this may be that they'll want to know that the dog has had it's shots.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Why not call the dog's owner and ask him what he wants done?

It would give him a chance to apologize for dumping a flea-infested mutt on you.

JLB, you are always so funny.

I did call him and actually he was here with me last night when I insisted on giving the dog a bath at 12 midnight when I spotted the first flea. He actually didn't see the fleas. Me being the eagle eyed former dog owner, I can spot a flea a mile away, especially with the hind leg scratching action.

Anyway, I think I got all the nasty critters. I have been doing every hour flea checks and killing the suckers that I see and so far I think only one has got away but I'm onto him.

The dog is much calmer now and not scratching anymore. I hope I got them all before they get on my cats.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Believe it or not, Avon's Skin So Soft really does a number on ticks and shouldn't hurt the dog at all. In the past we've used it on our dogs with very good results. I'm not sure if it the oil in the product that coats the fleas and suffocate them or what but, when we had to use it, we always ended up with a bathtub full of dead fleas, a flea free dog and a dog with a nice soft coat.

One of our Vets use to carry it and recommend it. Most will tell you that the ph balance if for humans and not dogs, thus it shouldn't be used on dogs. Just the same, when I was a kid all our dogs got bathed with regular human shampoo and none wear any worse for the wear.

Now if you're worried about the small size of a Yorkie and don't want to take chances poisoning the dog and your Vet charges $100 just for you to walk through the door, then find a groomer and have them give the dog a flea bath. Our local chain pet stores will do this for around $15 or $20. The only problem with this may be that they'll want to know that the dog has had it's shots.

Doug, I'm glad I asked this question because I had completely forgotten about Skin so soft. And yes I agree with you because I used to use it.
Luckily I have some in the bathroom so I think our flea troubles will be over very soon.
Thanks for the refresher.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I can spot a flea a mile away, especially with the hind leg scratching action.

Wow! You sure have great eyesight!!!

9 days til Florida.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Okay, so I'm exagerating a bit.

So did you get your 2nd week exchange done?

It's hot down here you know. Today I broke out a small sweat walking
the little dog. I even had to turn on the A/C again. I had it off for a few days. So much for the cold front.