There are two sides of the coin here. While we may trust that the vet has the knowledge, we also know our dogs. It is ultimately up to the owner to decide the right course of action. Not everyone gets it right the first time either. Neither the vet nor the owner. I have had a vew encounters with vets who think they know my dog better than me-even with test results staring them in the face. On more that a couple of occassions, I have had to step in and say, "No, this is the route I want to take." But with that decision comes education as well. I think that the consumer, as they grow with knowledge, becomes more adept at reading things on their own and the vets should start to listen and have more open minds to the owner. Just MO. Glad to see, though, that things are on the move for your baby!
Doh… vet said she needs to lose about a pound
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The only thing now is I have to watch it even more carefully with the Comfortis, since both dogs were given the dosage for 20-40 pounds. I wasn't giving her the full pill anyway since I've heard of several dogs react badly to it when they were at borderline weights. And she is borderline, with weight that apparently fluctuates more than I can easily perceive.
a note on this, when my guys were borderline weight, I went for the smaller size dose (I use Advantix) and I have not seen any flea/ticks. A reminder, I live next to a very wooded area and have only pulled a total of 6 ticks off the combined three dogs in 7 years. My neighbor uses Comfortis and her dogs get all the side effects of rash/hotspots etc.
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Thanks for the tips! I was just going to give her half a pill until this batch runs out, then I'll get her the lower dose next time. I try not to give her flea medication during the coldest parts of the year, but we do keep the other dog on flea meds year-round because he's got allergies that flare up with just a bite.
And yes, five months later, the lick granuloma is still there. >_< It hasn't gotten any bigger, and we rarely catch her licking it – but she IS sneaky like that. The vet discouraged wrapping it when she gave us a Betagen spray to try and shrink the thing down... but I don't think it'd hurt to look into OTC ointments and try wrapping it for a while. We just kind of let that one be since it didn't seem to be bothering her, it's not going anywhere, and it's not cancerous. It just won't go away on its own!
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I'm puzzled because if she has the correct pliant skin for a Basenji, it would get fewer wrinkles if she was too fat. I stand to be corrected here but thats what happens to mine!!
I think she looks very good and that she has no need to lose any weight. Her coat is gleaming. Congratulations to you for keeping her in such lovely condition!
I've only ever had to remove ticks from our collies - the Basenjis have never had one but I can understand that you feel the need to give medicine but personally I only give conventional medicine to a Basenji if I (and my vet) consider it totally necessary.