When I got home Friday night I was reminded by my phone that it was time for Rigby’s monthly flea medication. Although I’m all for my dog not having fleas, the process of giving the medication is rather an ordeal. An ordeal that lasts about 24 hours.
I say process because, with Rigby, it’s not quite as easy as the package directions make it out to be. Being a Queensland heeler, she has what is called a double coat of hair. From her neck to the middle of her back she’s got what I’d describe as a 2 inch wide ridge of long hair. As far as I’m concerned this coat has three uses – one to shed all over my house and clothes, one to stick straight up in the air anytime she barks at someone walking or riding past the house, and one for moisture protection.
The third use is what makes applying the flea medication so difficult. Regardless of the brand, the gist of the directions is to push the fur apart on the dog’s back, between the shoulder blades, and squeeze the tube of medication onto the dogs skin. Easier said than done. To start, it’s hard to actually find her skin under that dual coat, but that isn’t the hard part. Once the dose has been given, that moisture wicking coat goes to work. Within 10-15 minutes all the medication is no longer on her skin instead it has migrated itself to the end of her coat, leaving a wet blotch on the middle of her back.
For the first few minutes after application and migration, Rigby runs around crazily like most dogs do upon getting wet. But once she realizes it’s not water, my goofy, happy-go-lucky, well-behaved dog loses her ever loving mind for the next 24-36 hours. It makes her rather uncomfortable and she can’t sit still. She tries to lay down but can’t for more than a few seconds. She paces, doesn’t come when called, and won’t eat or drink. I’ve tried to ignore it, but it’s hard to ignore a miserable pacing dog in the middle of the night.
Every time this happens, I threaten to call the vet and ask them how in the heck do I give this medication to a dog with a moisture wicking double coat. But by the end of the next day, she’s back to her old self. And after a month has gone by, I forget about the ordeal and think somehow I’ll apply it better this time around. Which has yet to happen.
The ones I use probably wouldn't work over with you. Stronghold and Frontline. Both are topical application.
ReplyDeleteAny time I put it on Jess she acts like she has a monumental hangover for a day or two after.
Oh ya, we have frontline here too. I'm not sure of the brand I'm using advantix or something like that. I think they're all fairly similar, no? At least the application seems to be. Interesting to hear it has similar effects in Jess. Although my previous dog was also a Queensland, her top coat wasn't so long or unruly and application was pretty easy. She never fell apart like Rigby does. She's like a wet blanket. Maybe it is the meds...I had just assumed it was her not liking the wet blotch sitting on her coat.
DeleteThey seem to be very hot on weight here. I had to stand on the bathroom scales, read the dial, then get off and pick up Jess, step back up again, read the dial. Put the dog down for I forgot the first number. Went to the desk for pen and paper. Start again.
DeleteAnd in the end Jess is at the upper end of one and the lower of the other at 22Kg. But I think I'm making an error getting the 20-40Kg pipette. Next time I'll try for the small dog one.
I actually thought about the weight too. She's just over 50lbs and the meds run something like 35-50 and 50-65. Maybe it's just too much - liquid wise and/or medicine wise.
DeleteYes I've done the bathroom scale thing too, but it's hard lifting 50 lbs of wiggle. The vet has one of those scales the animals just stand on. I prefer that approach. :)
You might want to check with the vet. I know there are oral and injection treatments, but I don't know how good or how often.
ReplyDeleteThe oral would certainly be easier, although she sometimes put smarts me in the pill department.
DeletePerhaps she is allergic to the flea meds...or it burns her or itches or something? At any rate I would ask the vet.
ReplyDeleteMy cat hates it on his back...but I think it is the smell he doesn't like.
Ya I'll have to check it out further now that I'm hearing she's not the only one who is reacting like this. As I mentioned above, with Koho it was never even a blip - applied and done. I've been assuming that Rigby is just being a pain, but now I feel bad.
DeleteI give the babies comfortis because the liquid stuff makes them psycho. It literally affects the nervous system.
ReplyDeleteI just looked it up and it sounds like it takes care of all the same things, huh? Thanks for the recommendation. I'm going to see if I can locate it here before July's dosage. Fingers crossed.
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