I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.

For me they are the role model for being alive.

~ Gilda Radner

Saturday, July 3, 2010

The Weekly Berner Report: June 27 - July 3 (Experts weigh in, please)

Although I have wormed the Berner, twice, it seems he still has a load of parasites. Tapeworms! EEEWWWWW! YUCK! Gag me! Yes, tape worms. Evidence was clinging to his skirt/pantaloons earlier this week. In my experience, tapeworms/larvae are injested when a dog eats wild rabbit. The rabbit got the tape worm, via fleas. We don't have fleas in dirtville! Does this mean Alf came from somewhere, other than dirtville, that has a flea population?

My next question is which OTC dewormer is the one that does the best job. On line research references 3: Panacur (fenbendazole) or Praziquantel (Tape Worm Tabs for dogs by TradeWinds) or Safeguard (active ingredient is fenbendazole). Of course, my first choice would be to bring him to the vet. That's not happening, just yet, due to his anxiety in the car.

Below are some of the things I pull out of Alf, each day, during grooming.

This is an enlarged picture of the item circled in red. Evil, wicked #@$^%&!!! things.

No wonder he chews at himself all day. I don't pull the foxtail, goat's heads and whitestem seeds out of his fur. I pull them out of his skin! The poor guy! He doesn't have much belly hair due to chewing and his attempt to remove the foriegn objects from his skin. I wish Stumpy would clue him in about staying out of the danger zone.

Much to my dismay and consternation, Alfy still goes for a stroll every day, before it gets real hot (after we take ours). He's back in an hour or so ready to take advantage of the AC.

He's a lttle confused here because I am trying to follow him with the camera and he just wants to say hello. He says hello for Stumpy, heads for the water and without even taking a drink plops down on the closest AC vent.

He moves from the kitchen over to the vent closest to my desk, so he can block my cool air.



We've added "down" to his repitoire.



His "down" and "sit" have really come along way, since these videos were taken, earlier this week. I don't have to use food and I can use voice or hand signals. He also returns to the sit position after a down, when asked. Normally I would be working on "stay" about this time, but once Alf is down, he is down for the count. Also, leash work stresses him out. I know we have to do it, but it's really hard for me to be the cause of his stress. I will be biting the bullet this week, for sure.

Mr.B, willingly, climbs into the back of the cab.


And his stress level lowers, just a little, each time we picnic on hotdogs and cheese in the truck.

Mr.B discovered the window, this time. I'm hoping that helps decrease his stress even more.

The Berner (now known as Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner)is/was a semi-feral dog trying to survive in the Mohave Desert. If you're a new visitor to our blog, the Berner's story can be read in the posts listed below, in chronological order. Updates are posted on Saturday.

If you are interested in adopting this handsome boy please refer to my sidebar and check out Petfinder's "New Dog Adopter's" Pledge. This is the home Alfy deserves. He will come to you house broken, crate trained, vet checked, neutered, up to date on his vaccinations and micro-chipped. Alfy will bring his crate, his bed, favorite toys and some food with him. Vet references will be required. A home-check is a possibility. Because of his wander lust a fenced yard is probably necessary. Distance may not be a problem. I'll be traveling east in the not too distant future. I have also had offers for transport help, when the time comes.

#1 Who's been sitting in my chair?
#2 Runnin' with the big dawgs
#3 There's a Berner in my living room!
#4 He's everywhere!
#5 He's gone
#6 The Berner: coming and going
#7 Berner News
#8 The Weekly Berner Report (March 28 - April 3)
#9 The Weekly Berner Report (April 3 - April 10)
#10 The Weekly Berner Report (April 10 - April 17);
#11 The Weekly Berner Report (April 17 - April 24)
#12 The Weekly Berner Report (April 24 - May 1)
#13 The Berner (aka Alphonso Bernard Jacob Scout Billy Bob Berner) Report: May 1 - May 8
#14 The Weekly Berner Report: May 8 - May 15
#15 The Weekly Berner Report: May 15 - 22
#16 The Berner Report: May 22 - May 29
#17 The Weekly Berner Report: May 29 - June 5
#18 The Weekly Berner Report: June 5 - 12
#19 The Weekly Berner report: June 14 - 19

15 comments:

Moose said...

A while ago Frontline stopped working for us and Moose got terrible fleas and then got worms. We used praziquantel and they were gone. I had to use it a second time when fleas showed up before we understood that the Frontline wasn't working and both times it worked fine and caused him no trouble. The signs were clear enough and I had an obvious reason to think they were those kind of worms. Which sounds less clear in your case? If you are sure that is the kind of worm then I would not hesitate to give him the Praziquantel. I did not know there was an alternative but was happy with it regardless.
Nice going on the training work! I am working with Mandy on Down- she is the only dog I have not been able to lure into a down. She is highly food motivated so not sure why. I have resorted to capturing/shaping it and now when Moose hears me say 'down' he comes running from the other room for a handout!
Alfy was lucky to stumble onto your place. He is in great hands!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

What a good boy!

Nothing like snagging the khanine khool air khurrents fur your furry own!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: We don't know nothin' 'bout no worms...so we khan't help!

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Oh poor Alfy.. Those worms don't look like any fun at all. We are sure Mom will get rid of them for you really soon..
You are doing such a good job with all your tricks.. We love riding in the truck even for 16 hours when the destination is the farm. Mom can we go again real soon? Alfy you and Stumpy can come along too. We will show you how much fun the corn field can be although Toph said the corn is probably 7 foot tall now..

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Dewdana, thanks for the info. I am sure their tapeworms, just not sure about which product works best. Good to know the praziquantel works.

Khyra, yep! Mr.B is certainly a good boy! Especially to sit so still when i am pulling those horrible things out of him!

Heelers, back east, about now, the farms are starting to cut the cornfields into mazes. So much fun to paly hide and seek in!

Anonymous said...

Oh to live in a place with no fleas, even better if you have no mosquitos.
Working with the vet we always used Droncit (or Drontal) which is the fancy name for those tape worm tabs. Then followed up with a regular wormer just to flush the system 3 weeks later. Sometimes it would take 2 or 3 doses of the praziquantel (see why we used the shorter names) to do the whole job.
Maybe Alf was friendly with a visiting dog who had fleas? Like a contact high?
Our corn is holding true to the "knee high by 4th of July" rule so any mazes cut now would not be very challenging.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

dogsmom, no fleas, ticks or mosguitoes! Thanks for the info on the wormer.

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Happy 4th Stumpy, Alfy and Cyndi.. Stumpy you should of been here we went to the lake this am.. Whooo Hoooo

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Heelers, I decided this mornng that I am going to have to leave Alf at home and head for the river, one morning this week. Stumpy and I both need a swim! Of couorse, Alf is welcome to come with, if he'll get in the truck!

♥ Sallie said...

Poor puppy!

Worms are evil! I hope you are better soon.

Life With Dogs said...

I'll keep trying to spread the word about this sweet boy. I thought he would be long gone by now.

I can honestly say that we have never dealt with a parasite infection, and I am so ok with that. Hang in there...he owes you huge.

Calsidyrose said...

Tapeworms are common here in southeast Texas. We use Drontal at my house to fight those nasties.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Sallie, thanks for visiting Stumpy's blog. alf will be just fine as soon as we can get to town to get the dewormer.

Pat Wahler said...

Is there a wonderful vet nearby who might do a house call? I don't remember what meds Indy has had in the past because they all have come through his vet. Alf is such a sweet boy!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

tula monstah said...

eeesh.. gives me the willies. alf owes woo guys big time! hope you find something that works soon--

this dirtville weathah is melting us ovah herah!
luckily i can enjoy my yummy cookies inside the cool AC:)

scratchies,
tula

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

LWD, I thought he would be in his happily-ever-after forever home by now, too He's such a big, sweet loveable guy and has come so far.

Calsidy Rose, thanks for the info on dontral I think that's the prescription form of praziquantel, with some other stuff addded. I'll look for it, though.

Pat, nearby is fifty miles away and no, there isn't a vet willing to travel to dirtville.

Tula, we're going to need to find something that works, pretty soon I've delayed my trip east (which isn't just a vacation) about as long as I can.