Dog limping after flea and tick treatment. Is it a reaction?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Scout! I haven't heard of limping as a side effect of flea shampoo. Usually the side effects are GI (vomiting, diarrhea, not eating), lethargy, skin irritation or neurologic (seizures, twitching). I think maybe he hurt himself before, during or after the bath and that is the the cause of the limping. The discomfort and lethargy could be from the bath or the painful leg. If he is still uncomfortable, lethargic, limping, not eating through out the day then I would bathe him in Dawn to remove the flea product and take him to the Vet. I recommend the edible flea and tick products (Nexgard, Bravecto or Simparica) to prevent and get rid of flea infestations. I wish Scout the best!

In this product they use Amitraz. I have seen dogs react poorly to this medication. Typically they have vomiting, diarrhea and lethargic behavior. I would recommend taking him to your veterinarian for supportive care. Typically this is not a fatal medication but can make them dehydrated and need medical care! Some dogs just like people are more sensitive to certain medications. I would not recommend using this product again. Hope that helps

No, it's non related to the treatment you gave him, but he is a German Shepherd and he is old so hip arthritis is very likely to be the cause, he needs to see a vet ASAP in order to get anti inflamatories.

I agree, it's impossible to know if this is unrelated (symptoms like this could be due to a compressed disc in the spine or cranial abdominal pain) or a reaction to the flea medication. I recommend to play it safe and have Harvey examined by the veterinarian. The doctor will likely get an idea of pain or skeletal abnormality from the physical exam. You may also wash him in Dawn dish soap to remove the flea product just in case. Be very gentle when handling him. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, sorry to hear about Tripp. It sounds like he may be having a reaction to which ever flea medication you are administering. Often, these medications can cause tremors and trembling as a side effect or even when toxic doses are administered. Discontinue the medication, if he improves then he was likely having a side effect, but if his sigs continue or if they get worse (seizures, non-stop shaking and trembling, excessive salivation) then have him seen immediately. Other potential causes may not be associated with the medication and may be a sign of flea allergy dermatitis (allergy to the flea saliva) especially if you have seen fleas on him. Since it is unclear wether his current flea medication is giving him side effects, then your veterinarian may consider using an alternative medication. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I'm sorry Gwynd is so uncomfortable. And what a spot for a tick bite. Assuming you have already removed the tick, you could soak her paw in warm water and Epsom salts a few times a day. This will help soothe the area and if any portion of the tick was left behind may help it work its way out. If she continues to be very painful I would have her evaluated by her veterinarian to make sure there isn't another issue going on on the same paw. Hope she is back to herself soon!

Some dogs are stoic and do not show obvious signs of pain even when they do hurt. If he is not putting weight on his foot it is probably because his leg hurts. There are a few exceptions: one being a luxating patella where the kneecap becomes displaced and rotates the leg so that it impossible to fully extend it. This is something your veterinarian probably would have found during an examination of the leg. I don't think the flea medication or spider would be related. If he is continuing to limp occasionally I'd recommend rechecking with your veterinarian: sometimes a tendon or ligament injury is more obvious on a sedated exam, and x-rays might be helpful as well.