Q: My puppy, Cooper, received skunked as we speak. Is skunk gunk poisonous to puppies?
Also, please advocate a protected technique to eliminate the stench on a puppy.
A: The commonplace business skunk treatments, like Skunk-Off and Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover, are protected for puppies.
Or, you’ll be able to attempt one among these home made recipes:
- Mix 1 quart of three% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and 1 to 2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid. While the brew bubbles, rub it on Cooper. Leave it on for 10 to fifteen minutes after which rinse nicely. Repeat if mandatory.
- Use tomato juice to dip Cooper. Let it dry, wash it out, after which bathe him with canine shampoo.
- Bathe him with Dawn dishwashing liquid adopted by canine shampoo.
- Use double-strength Massengill vinegar and water douche powder as a dip.
Skunks can spray their “gunk” (referred to as musk, really a sulfur-containing anal sac excretion) 7 to fifteen ft, and their goal is correct.
If the spray hit Cooper’s eyes, it may trigger conjunctivitis or a corneal ulcer. So, if he’s rubbing his face, flush his eyes with loads of eye wash or water, and make an appointment together with your veterinarian.
If the skunk sprayed Cooper’s mouth, he’s most likely drooling, so rinse his mouth with a lot of water. If he swallowed skunk musk, it may injury his purple blood cells.
A extra critical problem is that skunks can carry rabies. If the skunk related with Cooper, make an appointment together with your veterinarian.
Since medical issues hardly ever develop after a canine is sprayed by a skunk, your main concern might be the odor. Even after therapy, it might return when Cooper is bathed or will get drenched by rain.
I skilled the identical downside when one among my dogs was skunked, so you may have my sympathy and greatest needs.
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Q: My veterinarian identified my new kitty, Lily, with ringworm and prescribed lime sulfur dips twice weekly.
Should Lily additionally obtain oral treatment? What about cleansing my flooring and furnishings?
A: Ringworm — which is definitely brought on by a fungus, not a worm — typically resolves by itself inside three months.
However, it will possibly unfold from cats to people, infecting half the folks uncovered, so most veterinarians advocate treating cats for ringworm.
You have three therapy choices: topical remedy, oral treatment and environmental management.
Treatment might include a number of of those choices, relying on the severity of the cat’s an infection, the variety of contaminated cats and the susceptibility of the people uncovered to the illness. Combination remedy can also hasten remedy.
Topical remedy consists of the lime-sulfur dip prescribed for Lily, an enilconazole dip or an anti-fungal shampoo that incorporates miconazole and chlorhexidine. The dips are efficient as sole remedy. Veterinarians often prescribe topical remedy twice weekly.
Oral anti-fungal treatment can also be really helpful.
Finally, many veterinarians advocate environmental decontamination. Transmission almost all the time happens by means of direct contact with the pet, however elimination of ringworm spores from the home might assist lower unfold of illness.
Dust furnishings with damp wipes, and use a lint curler or sticky tape to take away hair. Wipe different arduous surfaces with disinfectant or diluted bleach.
Clean hardwood and tile flooring with a moist, disposable fabric, resembling a Swiffer pad. Avoid brooms, that are tough to decontaminate.
Vacuum carpeting and fabric, and eliminate the bag. Hot water extraction, additionally referred to as steam cleansing, may be very efficient.
Launder bedding and small rugs. Replace furnace filters.
Your job will probably be simpler in the event you limit Lily to 1 room you’ll be able to clear simply till your veterinarian confirms that her ringworm is gone.
