Poor baby!

At least you show her love! Because of your kind kind heart!

Awwww..Bless her little nekkid heart!! Left her out in a thunderstorm?? OMG! Isn't funny how even though you don't know someone personally, you just know it to be fact that they're an IDIOT!!! Wonder if Larry has had any experience with the "Reaping what you sow" lifes lesson? That might be interesting to witness!*S*

It's sweet of you Trinity to take such good care of Buffy.
Leslie

Buffy is a real doll. When you talk to her she just wags her tail and is so happy to be at Trinity's house. Trinity has a beautiful yard with lots of trees for shade. I know that once the flea problem is taken care of she will be inside playing with the other dogs and cat.

She still looks a lot better than she did! I can not imagine leaving one of my babies out in a storm! She is so little too! I am with country bumpkin, bless her little nekkid heart!

Trish

Yes, Larry is an odd one......the city got after him about having a tarp hanging over his garage after his garage door collapsed. It looked awful, thank goodness for the city's help.
So what does he do? He goes and buys a brand new garage door, and nails it up. Does not function what so ever.
He never, ever locks his front door. I know because I used to go over there to put Buffy up when I saw the dog catcher in the area.
Buffy is here and in good shape, whatever pill they gave me to give her, is working well against the flea issue.
Getting her to take the pill was a bit harder.
She spit it out twice, wrapped in cheese, and then finally I got it down her.
Next week I will apply the Advantage as the vet told me to.
Nita, how is your kitty feeling? Have the drops helped any?

Trin

If you have to give her more pills, get some Oscar Mayer Liver Sausage. You can mold it around the pill like Pay Doh. Dogs love it!!

Good idea Lisa, never thought about that!
I was he// bent to get that pill down her, it was expensive! But looks like it was well worth the money.
I did see while Nita and I were at the vet, that they had 3 cards on their bulletin board behind the desk and she told me they all came for Buffy.
So thanks to you who sent a card to give my vet a high five for his wonderful care and consideration. He deserved it.

Trin

Thank goodness Buffy has you! I am hoping the only reason Larry would be ok with leaving her out in a storm is that he knows you will take care of her. Why on earth doesn't he just turn her over to you. Sheeez... As far as the flea problem, even if you treat her for it, Larry's house is probably infested with the nasty critters, and won't they just keep jumping back on her? That guy is lucky he is dealing with someone as nice as you. He wouldn't like being around me!

Elisabeth

We put pills in a spoonful of peanut butter. Works like a charm.

Linda

Trin,
Do you know for sure that Larry's house is flea infested? Can you get inside to find out. If it is infested Buffy should not be sleeping in there. I would tell Larry you know his house has fleas and either he turn Buffy over to you or you will be calling the authorities. Buffy could end up with something more serious if his house has a bug problem.
Donna
P.S. Buffy's so cute I want to pick her up and kiss her. LOL

Good Lord people!

"Can you get inside to find out."

Do not encourage Trin to enter someone's home! No matter how much she wants to help the dog, breaking and entering is still a crime.

Actually, so was taking the dog, but I fully support that action. Were I Trin, I would just ask to keep the dog.

aww shes so sweet and and thank god for people like you!!

She's really special, and she's very lucky to have you.

We take a vienna sausage, cut it up in rounds and stick the pill in one of the pieces of sausage. I feed the first couple of pieces to him (with the pill in one of them) and then sit the paper plate on the floor and he gobbles the rest up. Rufus looks forward to seeing us get that plastic container of sausage out of the fridge! :o)

My heart still breaks for little Buffy; she would be one sad little girl without you, Trin.

The more I hear about Larry, the less I like him or respect him. He's an idiot and sure doesn't deserve or qualify to have Buffy.

Glad those pills are working, but I've wondered if Buffy won't keep getting infested with the fleas in the home. And I also worry she's not kept safe in an enclosed fence.

I also used to use cheese and vienna sausage to get my dogs to take pills..most of the time it worked. :)

mary_c,
I was not suggesting Trin break in the house. I meant go inside with Larry.
Geez,
Donna

I think Trin can put two and two together. Buffy has/had fleas. She sleeps in Larry's house. She goes back in every night to her sleep area. New fleas try to bite her, heck they will bite on Larry too. They might be going down in numbers because of her treatment but I'm sure there are still some in there.

This is a copy and paste. Maybe more info than needed.
THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE FLEA

The flea is a blood-feeding parasite which can be transferred from host to host. H owever, once a host is located, the flea prefers to remain on that host until it is dislodged or dies.

Adult fleas have an exoskeleton. They do not have wings and their body is compressed laterally (vertically). Their eyes are very simple, and they have piercing, sucking mouthparts. Fleas as a group are cosmopolitan, and have been found everywhere in the world except the southern-polar cap. They are active and reproduce year-round (contrary to popular belief) but all life processes are slowed by various degrees of cold weather.

In addition to fleas biting the pets (and often people), they can also cause several related medical problems. Flea Allergy; both dogs and cats can be allergic to certain toxins in the flea's saliva. This reaction is usually characterized by intense itching, chewing and scratching on their rear legs, tail, and upper back area. One flea bite can cause allergic reactions in sensitive animals for up to two weeks, regardless of whether a flea is still present. Any animal with hair loss should be seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause. (also known as flea bit dermatitis).

Tape Worms: Tapeworms are intern parasites of both dogs and cats, for which the flea is the intermediate host. This means that the only infectious stage of the tapeworm is the larval stage inside the infected flea, i.e., fleas can be carriers of tapeworms. Tapeworms are usually identified by the owner as white worm segments, about the size of a grain of rice, that are stuck on the fur of the animal or that have dried up and fallen on bedding, etc. Pets can only become infected with tapeworms by chewing on and swallowing the worm segment. Once again, a veterinarian should be consulted for diagnosis and de-worming, but prevention of further tapeworm infection can only be accomplished by flea control.

fleacycle.gif (3362 bytes)
THE FOUR STAGES OF THE FLEA LIFE CYCLE
FLEA EGGS

* The flea egg represents approximately 34% of the total flea population at any given time.

* They are smooth, oval, pearlescent, approximately 0.5 mm or 1/64 of an inch long, and are visible to the naked eye (a little smaller than a grain of sand).

* They hatch in 1.5 to 6 days, depending on temperature and humidity.

* Eggs are generally concentrated in area frequented by pets; i.e. bedding, dog houses, favorite resting area, etc., but can be deposited anywhere the pet has been.
FLEA LARVAE

* The larvae account for approximately for 57% of the flea population at any given time.

* The larvae emerge from the egg using a special "egg-buster" spine on the head. The spine is lost during the first larval molt.

* They are legless, whitish and maggot-like in appearance, having a single row of bristles on each side. They are about 3 mm long or 1/32 to 5/32 of an inch long, and are very active, using the bristles to move.

* The larvae molt through three larval instars, lasting from 6-36 days, depending on temperature and humidity. Each instar is slightly longer than the last.

* They are very susceptible to humidity, with low humidity being detrimental to the larval.

* They feed primarily on adult flea excrement, which is more less dried blood from feeding on the host. This is often called "flea dirt", and is often mistaken for flea larvae or eggs. This is the dark specks that is seen on the animal or left behind where an infested animal lays. The larvae need this in order to survive.

* Although very active, larvae do not range far from the area in which the larvae hatch.

* Larvae are negatively phototactic, which means they avoid sunlight, hence they are more likely to be found in dark, shaded, or protected places.

* Larvae will be mainly found in the pet's favorite resting areas.
PUPA (COCOON)

* Accounts for approximately 8% of the flea population.

* Larvae form cocoons by secreting a stick substance and incorporating debris from surrounding areas for camouflage.

* The cocoon provides a protective barrier which makes it resistant to chemicals and pesticides.

* Pupa progress from larval form to a recognizable flea inside the cocoon.

* Development takes place in about 7-10 days; however, the cocoon will lie dormant in the environment until the outside temperature and humidity is high enough, and it senses a certain degree of vibration. A passing host subjects enough vibration for the cocoon to hatch.

* Cocoons may remain dormant over years if they are not stimulated to hatch. This accounts for the "VACATION SYNDROME", when people and pets return to the home the vibrations begin immediately which can start a massive wave of flea emergence.
ADULT FLEAS

* Adult fleas only account for approximately 1% of the total flea population.

* Newly emerged fleas (from the cocoon) are often mistaken for "baby fleas" because they are very small, dark (almost black), and flat. These are merely new adults that have not yet taken a blood meal.

* Adults are wingless and range from 1/32 to 1/8 of an inch in length. They are black to brownish-black in color.

* After locating a host and feeding, the fleas "plump up" and turn a reddish-brown color, and are then recognized by most owner as a flea.

* Adults are stimulated to emerge from cocoons by vibration and changes in temperature. Daily vacuuming is recommended, discarding the bag after each use.

* Under normal circumstances the adults emerge from the cocoons in 7-10 days.

* Visual and heat stimuli are primary modes that attract adult fleas to host; carbon dioxide causes random jumping and is a minor mode of host-seeking

* Once they locate a host, fleas will feed, mate, lay eggs and spend over 90% of their lives on the host, unless dislodged.

* After emerging from cocoons, adults can live up to two years without a blood meal if they have not yet fed; feeding on flea feces, fungus, and skin dander.

* Once a blood meal is taken, the adults must feed at least every 4-6 hours.

* Feeding periods are from 4-7 minutes in duration.

* Egg production begins 2 days following the first blood meal, with the greatest number of eggs being produced on the sixth or seventh day after the first blood meal.

* Average eggs laid per day is 31-46; average number in female lifetime is 300-800.

* Average life span on host is about 12 days, with accounts of up to 113 days. If fleas are seen continuously on pet, this is evidence of re-infestation of new adults.

* Fleas jump on a average of 9-15 inches high.