shih poo puppies

by sparkle
(sompton ,c.a.)

I have a shih poo puppy and she is about seven weeks old. I got her from my neighbors and the mom has hair missing in the back and she looks old. She had a litter of seven puppies. And my aunt and I bought one.

Well the puppies scratch a lot and we gave them a bath and checked for fleas. I didn't see any and I put flea powder on the carpet and gave her a flea bath. Someone told me that puppies scratch and that they are too young to have fleas. Is it true or is something wrong with the puppies?




Hi Sparkle
It sounds as though your puppies could have fleas, especially if the condition of the home they came from wasn't great.

It's not a good idea to use flea shampoos or sprays on young puppies. I would recommend checking with your veterinarian to make sure that whatever you use is safe for the pups.

Frontline Plus is the best flea preventative in my personal opinion. It's a topical (or 'spot on') treatment and you can use it on puppies over 8 weeks of age. You can buy this from your veterinarian's office, or online. Check out my Fleas and Ticks page for more advice and information on dealing with fleas.

There are other possibilities for the scratching too. Mange, a skin condition caused by tiny mites, could be present. Skin irritation from dirt, dust, or living in damp or cold conditions could also exist.

I would recommend taking these puppies to your vet for a thorough check up, so that any health issues can be taken care of right away.

Best of luck with your puppies, it sounds as though they were lucky to find a good home with you.