To Gizmo,
The dandruff is usually a condition called seborrhea - you can get a medicated shampoo from your vet called Sebolux made by Virbac. I think it was about $12.00 for the bottle. They also make some human shampoos by the dandruff shampoos for this condition that might work, but I've never tried them.
The best cure for dry skin is treating it from the inside with a good quality dog food like Nutro Natural Ultra, Candidae, Chicken Soup, Royal Canin, Merricks, etc. When looking for a good quality food skip the grocery and department store brands and go to a petstore. Look for one that has meat as the first ingredient, no corn (or very little), and no meat by products. You can also add a supplement called Missing Link which is great for their skin and coat by providing necessary Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. There are several supplements out there - just look for the key words Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Nails start getting clipped when they are still nursing. The best time to do it is after a bath when the nails are soft. I prefer to clip a little bit every week. It gets them use to having it done and they never get out of control this way. If he has dew claws be sure and clip them too - they have a habit of growing curved and can grow right into the skin. I use human toe nail clippers, but the regular size works on puppies.
The top third of the ears can be shaved or clipped with scissors really close to take the weight off. Also massage the ears several times a day. There is still time for them to stand.
Congratulations on your new puppy and welcome to YT. |