8.5 wk puppy, grooming? Cleaning?
 

Hi all! Prince is about 8.5 wks now and I've had him for about 1.5 wks. I've given him 2 baths, I used "Mohica's Finest - All Natural Oatmeal Hypoallergenic" shampoo from Petco. I know that washing him too often can be bad for his hair, so I'm trying to keep it down to once a week. However, after a few days he starts itching. I think he has dry skin and I'm afraid to use something that will aggrevate him even more. Someone suggested "Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo"... Should I be using conditioner? I use puppy wipes daily to wipe him down and clean his paws after he goes outside and his butt after he does his business...

Also, how do I know if he has ear mites? His ears have a "smell" but nothing strong. He does itch his ears but I'm not sure what "normal" scratching is... Today, I bought Petco brand "Ear Cleansing Liquid for dogs" I'm afraid to use it on him since he's so small... After I told someone about the product, I was informed that only a groomer or a vet should be cleaning his ears?!

Please help:
1) What shampoo is best for an itchy puppy?
2) Do I need a conditioner?
3) How often can I bathe him?
4) Who can clean his ears? What product is best?

An off topic question?? He just started eating Science Diet Toy Breed Puppy food. I've noticed that he's dragging his butt on the floor as if he's "scratching" it... Should I be concerned??

Please help!!

The dryness and itching could be from left over shampoo if he hasn't been rinsed well.

I wouldn't bathe him more than once per week, the shampoo could also be over stripping the oils from the skin. I'm sure one of the groomers here can recommend a good shampoo.

Ear mites can only be seen with the microscope, but if you clean his ears and there is a brownish red "goop" on the cotton ball it might very well be. The odor could also indicate an ear infection. I would definitely have him checked.

As for the bottom dragging- has he been checked for worms?

I just bathed him and I might have gotten water in his ear because he wasn't happy with me and kept rubbing his ear all over the floor. I used a q-tip to get out the wax??!!

I haven't had him checked yet. Still searching for a good vet because the place I took him to the first time was absolutely horrible!!

He had his first round of vaccines on 5-10 and was dewormed...

He is only 8.5 weeks old and you should not be taking him outside at all for potty! You need to take him to a vet to be seen and have them also look in his ears. If they smell and he is scratching them he might have something going on. As for him scratching his skin I would be concerned with that as well. Where did he come from? Did you purchase him from a breeder? He should still be with him mom up until about 12 weeks old so if you have had him since he was 6 weeks :eek: You need to be careful when you bathe him and not allow water into him ears. Make sure that you use a gentle puppy shampoo. Johnson baby shampoo would not be a good choice it is not properly balanced to his skin. After a bath you need to make sure that he is kept warm and does not get a chill.

Good Luck to you with your little one. I would not use ANY human shampoo (baby shampoo) on him. The PH levels are different and this may cause skin irritations or allergies. Being so little, I would not bath him every week. IMO, this may be drying him out a bit. I think the wipes would do fine in between baths possibly every 10-14 days. (Again, that is just me.;))

Also, you may want to research and find a higher quality food
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ing-chart.html
Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble
are a few sites to help you get started. Remember to make any switch in foods VERY slowly and gradually.:)

Finally, I would get him to a vet now. Sounds like he already has issues a vet needs to care for. He should be checked ASAP for any health issues that may turn into bigger, more expensive problems. You were given your baby a bit too early, so I would be extra careful and have a vet visit quick.:) Nothing can substitute care from a qualified professional for these little one.

If he came "dewormed" from a backyard breeder or petstore it may not be good enough. The deworming meds they give are generalized and miss some types.

I use puppy wipes too. I like to keep my boy clean. :) Like Megansmomma said, your pup is far to young to be away from his momma. What is done is done I guess, and it's best you learn how to care for an infant pup quick. Conditioner is not only good for the coat, it also conditions the skin, almost like human lotions do for us. Make sure you rinse off all the shampoo and conditioner off your baby, otherwise it will make him itch and it will look like dandruff. A better shampoo is Bio Groom, you can get it at PetSmart, so I'm pretty sure you can get it at PetCo.

For his ears, you will need to see a vet about that. Try to keep his ears from getting wet in the bath. You can give them a quick clean with a damp washcloth after the bath. So far, I've had nothing but compliments on Kaji's ears.

On the food, there is much better food out there than Science Diet. Stay away from anything you can pickup at the grocery store. It's all puppy junk food. Read up on dog food here and check out this website to get an idea on what food is better.
Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost
Also, if you switch his food, do it real slowly. Since he's so young, keep him on whatever his breeder was giving him.

The dragging his bum on the floor can be a sign that either his anal glands need cleaning, or he has worms. Again, check with your vet.

On his ears- you can clean them yourself. There are good quality cleansers available (search the posts for recommendations if you are having trouble deciding on one) But do NOT use a Q-tip. Use a cotton ball or pad soaked in the solution. Clean only the area you can see and don't put anything down into the ear canal. When you bathe him, you can roll up cotton balls and place them gently in his ears to help prevent water getting in them.

But again, a puppy's ears should not have an odor. He really needs to be checked.

For shampoo, I personally use Yorkie Splash and Shine which is fantastic! It's made by own of our members. Send her a PM and she will gladly answer any questions she may have. She has excellent customer service! :)
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ie-splash.html