Puppy trauma-please help?
Today was our second day home with our 8 almost 9 week old puppy. Because she came from a rather unkempt farm, she was VERY dirty and we decided to give her a bath! She was quiet during the bath but very nervous, and afterwards was shaking like crazy. Following the bath we wrapped her up in a towel and a blanket, and she promptly fell asleep in my arms. She is sleeping more deeply than usual now. Is this normal? I know that she's breathing and if you move her she'll look around a bit and then fall asleep. Is it ok for her immediate reaction to be a deep sleep? Thank you SO much for your help.
Also, we discovered today that she has fleas.
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SHe will probably be fine - a bath is a very traumatic experience, and she was clearly exhausted from it. Puppies sleep like they are dead, but then twitch - which is also normal.
I do hope you didn't get soap in her eye- it can cause corneal ulcers. Always use a no tears formula around a dog's head,and on puppies if you absolutely must bathe them (this one sounded like she needed a bath).
I agree she needs to go to the vet immediately - and here's hoping she has been protected from parvovirus in her first home. At least they knew to keep her for 8 weeks - that part is promising above all.
Go to Home Depot and get some of this:
http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/202072089/4-lb-d...
and apply it to floorboards and rugs, and vacuum the rugs often - but make sure to vacuum up some of the powder FIRST - you will suck up not only fleas, but their eggs - and the diatomaceous earth powder will dessicate any fleas that are around, or the ones that are going to hatch in a couple weeks...without using chemicals in your home, or around your puppy. The stuff will kills bugs you never knew you had, and won't hurt anything else.
You will find that your puppy sleeps a LOT - and she should. Get her a crate, and make sure she has a warm, draft free place to sack out - puppies are good for about 20 minutes, and then they sleep for a long time - don't push it or she will become overwhelmed and anxious - but as far as now, I'm sure she's just sleeping off the latest big adventure!
Any time you get a new pup/dog, you know that it needs to be seen by a vet, for a wellness check, within 48-72 hours after taking it home, which will include a urinalysis, blood work, and to have a stool sample analyzed. So, since today is Sunday, you'll be headed into your vet's office tomorrow. You can ask the vet all of your questions during this initial exam.
Where did you get this pup from, seeing that it has fleas? No reputable breeder would send one of their pups to their new home with fleas. During the exam tomorrow, the vet will also prescribe a flea medication. You will also need to call out a professional exterminator and have your house/yard sprayed.