You should administer up to 1mg per lb every 8 hours
How Much Liquid Deworming Medicine Can I Give My 3.7 Pound Chihuahua?
Ask your vet. Those OTC dewormers are very dangerous and have a tendency to result in emergency and death and especially when used off label. They also aren't generally effective. Different parasites require different treatments and those are mainly effective on one. Just ask your vet since they are more aware of her medical history (does your pup have liver issues or kidney issues or anything at that size ect.) and can maybe guide you to a safer dosage but please watch her closely if you use something like that. Also if it is because you suspect parasites you would want to check that it would even do anything. Usually it's safer, most effective and often cheaper just to get the dose you need from your vet and sometimes you may even just be able to run down and pick it up or you need to discuss the ingredients and the dosage for your individual pup with them and that can usually be done by phone as well if they know what they need to.
vetmedicine.about.com www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com
vetmedicine.about.com www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com
You need to speak to your vet.to check dosage and to be sure it's correct for the problem. This can usually be done over the phone. It is easy to overdose and the dosage for EMERGENCY (like snakebite and anaphylactic shock until you can get to the vet) wouldn't be good all the time and everyday and if your 4 pound has a liver or kidney problem (as is common in them) it could be a big problem. You need to work on whatever the underlying problem is. Usually it's food allergy's if the benadryl is appropriate.
The most effective way to help curb allergies and cut back on the Children’s Benadryl and antibiotics since they often help the symptoms but do nothing for the allergies themselves as the cause still exists (and then may only need to be used if it's from something like weather or actual infections not caused by allergies) is to feed a high quality food. Your dog is much better off on a 5 or 6 star food (check the analysis page) than anything else. The lower the rating the higher the vet bills usually and some would go below 1 if they could (and which ones they are might surprise you). :-) Most dogs are horribly allergic to the things in most commercial foods like chemicals (things like ethoxoquin), preservatives, fillers (makes them feel full but they don't really get the nutrition out of it and therefore need to eat more and you know what means, more p**, and some other things you should probably know about which is just plain horrifying) and corn.
Diet is a major factor in the health of your dog and has many benefits to us as well as them. Not many people are aware how allergic their dogs are to their FOOD. Fewer vet bills (and you save plenty on the ear infections and skin problems and other allergy signs for sure), they are much healthier, they actually LOOK better (there is a definant difference in the appearance and coat of a dog on a high quality diet), less shedding, fewer stools, longer life, and peace of mind are a few of the benefits of feeding a higher quality food. Some of the most well known names that people THINK are quality (thanks to all the advertising) can be some of the worst for your pet. No matter what a quality diet always helps (we checked but haven't had to worry about a recall yet either).
It is not a quick fix and works from the inside out so usually by the end of the switch (slowly anytime but higher quality foods are usually a little richer unless for particular problems or sensitive stomach since they actually contain food and all) to a medium size to large bag of food is when you really see a difference. Take a before and after picture :-). I feed Innova. Here's a great site with information, reviews, and ratings of many foods so you can find one you like that may be near you and some basic information on commercial foods that you might not know and may very well surprise (who) and even horrify you. Reading the reviews on the analysis page can also explain a lot.
You can also make sure your groomer is using a high quality, ALL NATURAL (not like Harts or anything) oatmeal shampoo when visiting as it can help relieve and prevent (from the dyes and perfumes in shampoos) any itching a little (and of course that they rinse well). And no perfume :-). Tip on groomer's- find one that does not use or preferably own cage dryers. They are not safe and your animal looks MUCH better when dried by hand (even if it is a little scarier at first) and it gets more of the undercoat out so less matting and shedding for a shedding breed and helps with minor matting and fluffs them up better before haircuts if a non shedding (or shedding) breed. They also get more personal attention since it's done by hand and they aren't sitting in an unsafe cage dryer. All around much better. A groomer who does not own a cage dryer is usually much more 'into' the animals and their health and safety :-).
Hope your pup is feeling better soon!
www.dogfoodanalysis.com
www.bornfreeusa.org
www.thedogsbone.com
The most effective way to help curb allergies and cut back on the Children’s Benadryl and antibiotics since they often help the symptoms but do nothing for the allergies themselves as the cause still exists (and then may only need to be used if it's from something like weather or actual infections not caused by allergies) is to feed a high quality food. Your dog is much better off on a 5 or 6 star food (check the analysis page) than anything else. The lower the rating the higher the vet bills usually and some would go below 1 if they could (and which ones they are might surprise you). :-) Most dogs are horribly allergic to the things in most commercial foods like chemicals (things like ethoxoquin), preservatives, fillers (makes them feel full but they don't really get the nutrition out of it and therefore need to eat more and you know what means, more p**, and some other things you should probably know about which is just plain horrifying) and corn.
Diet is a major factor in the health of your dog and has many benefits to us as well as them. Not many people are aware how allergic their dogs are to their FOOD. Fewer vet bills (and you save plenty on the ear infections and skin problems and other allergy signs for sure), they are much healthier, they actually LOOK better (there is a definant difference in the appearance and coat of a dog on a high quality diet), less shedding, fewer stools, longer life, and peace of mind are a few of the benefits of feeding a higher quality food. Some of the most well known names that people THINK are quality (thanks to all the advertising) can be some of the worst for your pet. No matter what a quality diet always helps (we checked but haven't had to worry about a recall yet either).
It is not a quick fix and works from the inside out so usually by the end of the switch (slowly anytime but higher quality foods are usually a little richer unless for particular problems or sensitive stomach since they actually contain food and all) to a medium size to large bag of food is when you really see a difference. Take a before and after picture :-). I feed Innova. Here's a great site with information, reviews, and ratings of many foods so you can find one you like that may be near you and some basic information on commercial foods that you might not know and may very well surprise (who) and even horrify you. Reading the reviews on the analysis page can also explain a lot.
You can also make sure your groomer is using a high quality, ALL NATURAL (not like Harts or anything) oatmeal shampoo when visiting as it can help relieve and prevent (from the dyes and perfumes in shampoos) any itching a little (and of course that they rinse well). And no perfume :-). Tip on groomer's- find one that does not use or preferably own cage dryers. They are not safe and your animal looks MUCH better when dried by hand (even if it is a little scarier at first) and it gets more of the undercoat out so less matting and shedding for a shedding breed and helps with minor matting and fluffs them up better before haircuts if a non shedding (or shedding) breed. They also get more personal attention since it's done by hand and they aren't sitting in an unsafe cage dryer. All around much better. A groomer who does not own a cage dryer is usually much more 'into' the animals and their health and safety :-).
Hope your pup is feeling better soon!
www.dogfoodanalysis.com
www.bornfreeusa.org
www.thedogsbone.com