How do I know if Princess has fleas!?

[nychelse]

Apple cider vinegar helps to keep the fleas away if you just put some in whatever shampoo you use on your baby

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Princess10

I just have the Children's Liquid Benadryl. I can run & get her some after the vet calls. These things have gotten terrible just in the last 48 hours. Nasty things.

On that just make sure it's not the Dye Free/Sugar Free Childrens Benedryl. It has Sorbitol in it and that is in the same family more or less as Xylitol which can harm the liver.
I almost made that mistake, and am glad I read the ingred. list first. Threw it right away. Now I just use a pill splitter and cut the regular Benedryl in half or 1/4's.

[Princess10]

The vet said the liquid probably wouldn't help & I didn't really want to give it to her anyways since her stomach was upset. I have the reg. kind, I had to give it to her before for itching after oatmeal shampoo. She stopped scratching almost instantly after I sprayed her. She's in this ugly dress, lol, to discourage scratching & she hasn't tried once. Woo hoo!

[Princess10]

Took Princess to the Vet this evening. She started itching like crazy again & now has bumps & welts on her lady bits & every where in the vicinity from scratching. We got good news & bad news.

Good news: It's probably not fleas.

Bad news: She is being treated for allergies, either flea or environmental-the Vet is leaning towards environmental. Prendizone first, testing etc. later if needed.

Good news: She's gained 6oz. to put her at 8lbs. 6oz., her weight prior to the pancreatitis.

Bad news: She has grade one LP in her left knee that has never been diagnosed before. She said it's very mild & slipped right back into place but did move out with little pressure.

Good news: The bump on her back is almost gone. She said it is most likely a fluid pocket or cyst on one of her vertebrae that she's not worried about as long as it doesn't cause pain or grow at all.

Jeeze! I hope this is it, at least for a while if not for good!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Princess10

Took Princess to the Vet this evening. She started itching like crazy again & now has bumps & welts on her lady bits & every where in the vicinity from scratching. We got good news & bad news.

Good news: It's probably not fleas.

Bad news: She is being treated for allergies, either flea or environmental-the Vet is leaning towards environmental. Prendizone first, testing etc. later if needed.

Good news: She's gained 6oz. to put her at 8lbs. 6oz., her weight prior to the pancreatitis.

Bad news: She has grade one LP in her left knee that has never been diagnosed before. She said it's very mild & slipped right back into place but did move out with little pressure.

Good news: The bump on her back is almost gone. She said it is most likely a fluid pocket or cyst on one of her vertebrae that she's not worried about as long as it doesn't cause pain or grow at all.

Jeeze! I hope this is it, at least for a while if not for good!

Thanks for the update. Grade one isn't bad and many people suggest adding glucosamine to help prevent it from getting any worse. They don't suggest surgical repair for grades one and two, and even three sometimes. Main thing is try to keep her from jumping off furniture, keep steps or cushions by the couch and bed, and try to keep her a little underweight rather than any overweight as it's easier on the joints. I hope the itching gets under control, just wanted to remind you, when you shampoo, really do a thorough job of rinsing, many people overlook this step, and it can cause problems. Also, Joey's breeder recommended a good cream rinse/conditioner because you are not only conditioning the hair, but also the skin. We bath yorkies more than many breeds, so this step is important. We use Biogroom, and the company will mail you free trial samples if you email them and ask for some samples. Since the products are highly concentrated, don't forget to add water at least 4 to 1, Joey's breeder recommended 7 to 1. Bio-Groom - Exceptional Pet Care Products for Over 30 Years

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Thanks for the update. Grade one isn't bad and many people suggest adding glucosamine to help prevent it from getting any worse. They don't suggest surgical repair for grades one and two, and even three sometimes. Main thing is try to keep her from jumping off furniture, keep steps or cushions by the couch and bed, and try to keep her a little underweight rather than any overweight as it's easier on the joints. I hope the itching gets under control, just wanted to remind you, when you shampoo, really do a thorough job of rinsing, many people overlook this step, and it can cause problems. Also, Joey's breeder recommended a good cream rinse/conditioner because you are not only conditioning the hair, but also the skin. We bath yorkies more than many breeds, so this step is important. We use Biogroom, and the company will mail you free trial samples if you email them and ask for some samples. Since the products are highly concentrated, don't forget to add water at least 4 to 1, Joey's breeder recommended 7 to 1. Bio-Groom - Exceptional Pet Care Products for Over 30 Years

Thanks, I'm going to email them now. I normally condition her & have been very careful about rinsing these last couple of baths hoping that was the problem. She's still itching like crazy but they said to give it a couple days. I think I might put her cone on her when I'm not around to try to distract her because some spots are really red now & I don't want her to make it worse.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Princess10

Thanks, I'm going to email them now. I normally condition her & have been very careful about rinsing these last couple of baths hoping that was the problem. She's still itching like crazy but they said to give it a couple days. I think I might put her cone on her when I'm not around to try to distract her because some spots are really red now & I don't want her to make it worse.

Did he do a skin scraping or anything?

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Did he do a skin scraping or anything?

No. She actually said it could very well be ragweed, as it's really bad here right now I guess. I never even knew it'd affect dogs. She said give the prednisone about two days to work & if no improvement they will look further to see what it is. I understand dogs will bite their tails & butts for fleas, but she's biting underneath as well though not as bad.

Vet did say the meds would make her pee a lot & she was right. She even had an accident on the couch which I can't believe! Poor girl.

I wonder about the LP thing, she's 8.4lbs. but nicely rounded & proportioned. Even though that's above standard that doesn't indicate she's over weight does it?

Biogroom is going to send samples, thanks.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Princess10

No. She actually said it could very well be ragweed, as it's really bad here right now I guess. I never even knew it'd affect dogs. She said give the prednisone about two days to work & if no improvement they will look further to see what it is. I understand dogs will bite their tails & butts for fleas, but she's biting underneath as well though not as bad.

Vet did say the meds would make her pee a lot & she was right. She even had an accident on the couch which I can't believe! Poor girl.

I wonder about the LP thing, she's 8.4lbs. but nicely rounded & proportioned. Even though that's above standard that doesn't indicate she's over weight does it?

Biogroom is going to send samples, thanks.

Poor little thing, I'm glad you understand about the pee thing, she probably feels terrible about it and doesn't comprehend why she couldn't control it better.


You have to go on what's the best weight for them, breed standard is just something you take into account when breeding, it has little to do with pet Yorkies, and they are all over the board on this, but there is a weight that it best for them. I had my vet give me a range, and I try to keep Joey in that range, even a few extra ounces can hurt their joints, but because of the pancreatitis, she may have been too underweight, so I just can’t say if that weight good for her or not. Yorkies are supposed to have a little sausage-like body, and they don't have the extreme waist that other breeds have, but they do have a waist.

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Poor little thing, I'm glad you understand about the pee thing, she probably feels terrible about it and doesn't comprehend why she couldn't control it better.


You have to go on what's the best weight for them, breed standard is just something you take into account when breeding, it has little to do with pet Yorkies, and they are all over the board on this, but there is a weight that it best for them. I had my vet give me a range, and I try to keep Joey in that range, even a few extra ounces can hurt their joints, but because of the pancreatitis, she may have been too underweight, so I just can’t say if that weight good for her or not. Yorkies are supposed to have a little sausage-like body, and they don't have the extreme waist that other breeds have, but they do have a waist.

I'd rather her pee all over this apt. than itch so I 100% do not care. The Vet said some people have to stop the med because of the side effects but I guess if I had to I'd diaper her since they said this is the best course of treatment at this time.'

She's "tucked" at the waist, I can feel her ribs & spine easily but not too easily. The new bag of I/D is in the trunk but I'm pretty sure it's low fat. Any treats that she does get are completely fat free (fruits/vegs.), maybe with the exception of some occasional chicken breast.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Princess10

I'd rather her pee all over this apt. than itch so I 100% do not care. The Vet said some people have to stop the med because of the side effects but I guess if I had to I'd diaper her since they said this is the best course of treatment at this time.'

She's "tucked" at the waist, I can feel her ribs & spine easily but not too easily. The new bag of I/D is in the trunk but I'm pretty sure it's low fat. Any treats that she does get are completely fat free (fruits/vegs.), maybe with the exception of some occasional chicken breast.

Love to read about mommies like you, you know the value of things! Sounds like you are feeding great, I know my son's dog lost a lot of weight after he was diagnosed with pancreatitis, and it took over a year to put some back on, for a while there, he was skin and bones. My dog Joey, on the other hand, tends to gain if we don't watch it.