Does anyone have experience of using spot on treatments on a puppy weighing less than 2kg?

[trashcanjunkie]

The breeder (who lives a few hours drive away, so not local) says she's used something called Panacure, which I've never heard of, and can't find on the site she's recommended. The puppy is a Chihuahua, and I've heard that you shouldn't use spot ons unless they are over 2kg.... I've seen advocate for small/puppies under 4kg but couldn't find any more product info.

Alternatively does anyone recommend a good spray/shampoo? Anything really.

The puppy will be 14 weeks on Saturday

[toboldlygo]

Panacur is wormer - are you wanting wormer or flea treatment?

Whichever it is the pretty much the only stuff worth using is prescription only so see your vet for a new puppy check. :)

[trashcanjunkie]

I actually think the breeder is slightly batty. She's kc recommended and the puppy is excellent, but I didn't feel right about the flea advice she gave. A vet I spoke to on the phone and said use frontline shampoo (she didn't mention a puppy check , but so glad you've solved the panacur mystery. I'll book her in Monday

[toboldlygo]

Frontline don't make a shampoo so I'm wondering if the vet is slightly batty as well!

If you haven't observed any fleas I wouldn't worry about it at the moment, worming is far more important at this age and can be sorted with the vet on Monday. Advocate can be used from 7 weeks anyway.

[SpicyPear]

Definitely take her in and have a good chat through the worming and flea/tick protocol that is best in your area. I use Advocate because we are in a lung worm area.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

There are several spot treatments out there that are suitable for dogs less than 2kg Advocate and Activyl would be two of them. However, your pups age is critical as each spot on has a minimum age for use.

[trashcanjunkie]

I have seen none, but I have a bite of some description on my little toe. Frontline spot on doesn't seem to be effective on our other dog, and friends have reported the same, but had success with what I thought was advantage, but I'm doubting it wasn't Advocate

toboldy what about weight? a seven week old lab for example is way bigger than her at 14 weeks...

I'll definitely check with vets on Monday, and in the meantime she can make do with a good old bath

[trashcanjunkie]

ooh, x-post lonecat

[trashcanjunkie]

The other dog doesn't have fleas mind you we used a shampoo but as he's dp's dog, and we live apart, I didn't have huge involvement in the defleaing process last time round.... I just spotted one of the bastard things hopping about! We're about due to do it all again, so as I now have my own responsibility, I want to research things more thoroughly for myself, and the toe bite has spurred me on. It might not even be a flea for all I know, but I still want solutions at the ready, specially as the weather has been so warm lately...

[snala]

I use advocate on my miniature pinscher. She still only weighs 1.9 kilo now she's 19 weeks. I use millmax (sp?) for worming.

[toboldlygo]

A 7 week old lab though is going to be in the next weight category, or even one above that, certainly not less than 2kg! :)

[trashcanjunkie]

Spoke to vet, she said definitely no to spot on as under 2kg

Got to order bloody frontline spray. But on the plus side she also said I'd have seen fleas if they were there, and I haven't. Yippee!

[Floralnomad]

I think I'd be getting a different vet as TBH I'm not sure the one you have spoken to has read all the literature available.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Definitely not reading data sheets or not stocking most modern products.

[trashcanjunkie]

Really floral? Can you direct me to somewhere online I can read up? I'm laid up with a bug at the moment so can't physically get out today.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

NOAH website will give you access to all the data sheets for all the flea treatments.

[trashcanjunkie]

Thanks!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I checked for you Activyl tick plus the pup should be more than 1.2kg, regular Activyl 1.5kg and for Advocate less than 1kg there should be a clinical assessment made, but it is not totally contraindicated. Advantix the dog should be over 1.5kg.
So there are a selection of products for pups less than 2kg.

[trashcanjunkie]

wow Lonecat thanks, I really appreciate that. I checked out the NOAH website too, but I'm so grateful. Feel pretty fucked off at the vet's advice. I don't rate frontline and I'm sure they get bloody backhanders.

[Aked]

Vets dont get back handers. Ask lonecat, she is a vet!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

No backhanders. If anything the big pet retailers such as pets at home get bigger discounts than any vet does so they have a great interest in selling you any particular product than a vet does. We do make profit on items, but really it is much much smaller than you imagine after we have covered all our overheads.

[trashcanjunkie]

Ah that is good to know. I went off feeling really stressed about the vet giving duff advice. I was going to register the puppy there but have doubts now. Dps dog is at a vets right across the city, but that is it's only negative. Why the pushing of frontline, when so many report it not working? (anecdotally which the vet I spoke with agreed)

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Well frontline used to be the only product that was safe. I work incredibly hard to keep abreast of new products as well as spending hours on further study each year. But it is each vets own responsibility to keep up to date.

[toboldlygo]

Was it actually a vet you spoke to or a nurse or receptionist instead?

Frontline combo works but so many confuse it with the over the counter version that isn't nearly as effective (doesn't kill eggs/larval stages so doesn't break the cycle, you just get a new crop of fleas a few weeks later). Very frustrating when clients tell you it's too expensive from a vet, they will buy it from the supermarket - it's not the same stuff!

[trashcanjunkie]

I didn't check but she made reference to things she'd prescribe, so I assumed she was a vet or nurse.

Aah that's something I did not realise toboldy although our other dog had vetty frontline, he still scratched and we found fleas - this was last summer, and I can't recall how we solved the issue now, or if it was just an after effect - will check with dp (I think we did a whole house indorex too) but some of the dogs I walk definitely get the not from vets frontline, so I will pass that information on.