Two weeks ago, I found a few fleas on the doggy and f.r.e.a.k.e.d. o.u.t. at the self-dog-wash at the groomer's. Apparently this summer was the worst for fleas in GA. Cr-zazy. But the flea meds finally arrived, courtesy of UPS, and only about 3 days after the normal-bath-turned-flea-bath for traumatized Cody.
He survived that trauma, thankfully, but he has encountered some other....shall I say, "issues."
I don't know where he got these things, but I'm really glad I didn't give him the dewormer I got for him when he was neutered in August (yup, snip snip for a snappy little yapper). He started scooting his butt on the floor, mostly in the late evenings, about 2 days ago. It was gross, I lysol-wiped every surface I caught him doing that on. I also made him stop. He'd sit still for a while and just continue, whining just slightly as he wiped his anus on my floor. If alarms won't get me up out of bed, the sight of a dog scooting his butt mere feet away from my bed will.
Thursday night at around 2:44 am (yes, I checked what time it was), I caught him scooting his butt on the floor...I think I must have fallen into a light sleep and woke up b/c of the movement/noise. I would normally admonish the pup for being awake and go back to sleep...but this made me jump out of bed, take doggy to the bathroom and get a wet wipe and wipe his butt. In the process, I found a small, teeny oblong piece of what seemed to me like a short segment of an absurdly thin vermicelli noodle, but it was slightly pink in color. Something between white and pink w/ a twinge of beige...but just barely.
Well, this got me concerned. After I lysol'ed the floor, and made sure his butt was wiped clean, I dug out the dewormer meds and we both went to bed. The next morning, I decided to check his poop out...and I found about 1/3 inch long piece of that same vermicelli noodle...and I administered the dewormer.
Administration of medications: The dewormer was dosed for his weight, and in 2 separate syringes (sans hypodermic needles). One dose was to be given, then the 2nd dose to be given 3 weeks later. So I uncapped 1 syringe and had trouble making the plunger work...so I applied more pressure than I should have and it sprayed across 2 feet of expanse. Luckily, Cody seems to love drugs and he started to lick it up. I actually helped him get every drop, then administered the rest directly into his mouth. I then filled the syringe w/ water...shook it around, and mixed the medicinal fluid w/ his food...and he LOVED IT. muahahahahahahaha!!!!
I then crated him, left him w/ a kong stuffed w/ a snack and went to work. At work, appetizingly, I read up on different types of worms that can infect dogs, their life cycles and the chance of them infecting me. Thankfully, I'll know when I'm infected, b/c I'll break out in rashes or lose my eyesight. I hope I find out before I become permanently disabled, so I can take a shot of some deworming something or other. But for now, I'm safe. And Cody hasn't scooted tonight.
I hope he is worm-free, but I will follow up in 3 weeks. Oh, I put that into my cell phone calendar while I was at work...right after lunch. :)
And on TUESDAY, he gets grooommmmeedd!!! I talked to the groomer over the phone this morning and offered to bring his muzzle. And you know what? The groomer has one w/ his name on it. Well, he said he will be careful and understands that Cody's a pom, so he'll naturally have a pom-attitude, or POMITUDE. I just made that up right now. And it's the same groomer that saw me freak out when I found 7 fleas on Cody, so he's met the doggydoodoo. I will be sure to update you all w/ pictures of a fluffed and brushed and bathed Cody!!
