Top Ten Curable Problems a Stray Dog is Likely to Suffer

A Dog Found Running the Streets

Wonderful, caring receptionist finds frightened stray American Bulldog-looking dog by the neighborhood supermarket.  Beautiful, neglected 10-month-old white and black-spotted American Bulldog female looks up at Doc Truli with melty-brown big, trusting eyes.  That’s got to be one of the hardest parts about treating stray dogs: almost all of them are trusting and forgiving.  Dogs are amazing!

This little girl had a litany of common street dog ailments and medical needs, while being basically healthy and completely treatable.  We named her “Sweetie.”

Top Ten Curable Problems a Stray Dog is Likely to Have

1. Intestinal worms.  Especially hookworms and roundworms.  Sweetie had hookworms.  Treat with prescription-strength dewormer.
2. Unspayed.  Spay ASAP.  Spaying and neutering makes a dog less likely to roam.  If you find a stray, they were roaming when you found them!
3. Fleas.  A good bath in any foaming shampoo kills the fleas, you don’t need toxic flea shampoo.
4. Ticks.  Pick them off or get a prescription tick dip at the vet’s.  Ticks can require 2 or 3 dips until they are gone.
5. Bacterial Dermatitis.  Sweetie had bumps and crusts of scabs here and there all over her body.  She needed some prescription antibiotics.  With a vet’s prescription, Publix offers 2-week’s worth of Cephalexin, an appropriate antibiotic for most bacterial skin infections in dogs, free!
6. Starvation.  Sweetie was about 5.5 kg (12 lbs) underweight.  Add food!  She gained 2 kg (about 5 lbs) in 4 days!
7. Ringworm.  Sweetie was infected with ringworm fungus, particularly on her ears.  Check out this classic ringworm picture!  Ringworm gets into your home easily.  The microscopic fungal spores rub off everywhere the dog goes and they can be carried on air currents everywhere dust can be found.  Environmental contamination is a big deal!  Keep the stray dog in a bathroom or crate until you see the vet!  Ringworm is also Zoonotic, meaning the ringworm infects people, too!  Wash your hands after touching the dog and do not sleep with the dog until it is cured, whatever you do!  If you notice itchy spots or red bumps on your skin, see your doctor right away!  Diagnosis and Prescription Ringworm Treatment from the vet are mandatory to keep your family safe from ringworm!
8. 

   Ringworm Fungus on a Dog's Ear

   Mange.  Most stray dogs have come in contact with mange mite-infected wildlife, other dogs, or cats.  The mite insects are too tiny for you to see with your eyes, but they cause crusted, super-itchy lesions on the paws, ear edges, face, around the eyes, and sometimes thick piled-up scabs all over the body.  A really terrible mange infection will cause most of the fur to fall out and thick folds of dark pink, angry, sore skin to crust over and just hang in folds.  A dog can die from severe generalized mange , as the skin is the largest organ, and the largest immune system defense of the body.  See the veterinarian for safe and effective mange treatment; do not be lured into toxic home remedies!

9. Thunderstorm phobia and Separation Anxiety.  If your stray dog is in good shape.  Nails trimmed, collar on, no fleas, not skinny, odds are the dog ran away.  And odds are he or she ran away because of a panic attack. Watch carefully and schedule a veterinary appointment if you see signs you dog is anxious, vocalizing, soiling the house, or shaking during storms or during the first ten minutes when you leave the house.
10. Loneliness.  The #1 Reason to Keep a Stray Dog: Share the Love you and Your family have to give.  It will come back to you 1000 times!

Sweetie received Lyme-Sulfur Dips weekly and Prescription medication for the ringworm.  After 4 weeks, Doc Truli spayed her.  She is still looking for a forever home as of October 3, 2010!