My new dog from Craigslist is matted and needs a vet. What do I do?

The first thing you need to do is to take him to a veterinarian for an exam to make sure he is healthy, He can then be vaccinated and wormed. Check for fleas or have the vet check for fleas and get some flea medication/prevention. It also is a good idea to ask your veterinarian about a heart worm test and heart worm preventatives, Depending on the condition of his fur, whether it is very matted or just long, clean or dirty, he likely needs a bath with dog shampoo, and then you can take him to a groomer to be groomed or shaved.

What a cutie! You are right that some skin irritation like wearing a male diaper may have caused this yellow fur. Over time this should go away since the skin looks normal in the photo. Once he's settled in I recommend a veterinary exam. If she did not give you any vaccination history he should get all his vaccinations and should have a heartworm blood test and fecal check too. They you'll know he's up to date and protected. They will probably recommend using monthly heartworm and flea prevention too depending on where you live. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Rambo.

Hello. At the very least, Egypt will need to have a rabies vaccination 24-48 hours before allowed in for grooming. Since she is still young, I would also recommend she receive a distemper combination vaccination & be vaccinated against Bordatella, also known as kennel cough. Grooming costs vary from place to place, so it is best to call wherever you decide you want to have her groomed to discuss all options & services available. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Nero! If he was found, he really does need to see a vet as soon as possible. He could have additional problems to his matted fur and fleas, such as an illness or injury, and her really does need veterinary treatment. As for the fur, the vet can shave him or you can have him seen by a groomer. I can also give you the flea treatment program I always recommend. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Please have Nero seen by a vet first thing Monday.

There unlikely anything you can do to the person you got the dog from at this point. As far as your new pet.. congrats. Without paperwork it is best to get him to a vet to have him dewormer and start his vaccines to protect him. He will likely need a hair cut and grooming appointment soon with all that hair. He does look to have Maltese but may have poodle or yorkie also. There is no way to be sure

Thank you for taking care of this dog, He is a sweet looking dog, From the photo he looks like a poodle mix, however your vet will be able to give you a better idea of what breed he is when he does a hands on exam, as he can see the whole dog, size and physique, which is not visible on the photo The same is with estimated age. The vet will also look at his teeth and will be able to tell you whether it is a young dog or an older one , and may be able to pinpoint an age range. If you cannot find out whether he was vaccinated, you can have him vaccinated and wormed at your vet. You may want to give him a bath and a brush before taking him to the vet, so he is presentable and it will be easier to examine him. Again, thank you for saving this little fellow.

He looks pretty cute! It's hard to guess a puppy's breed from a couple pictures. It does look like he needs some care. His big belly may be caused by intestinal parasites, and he may have an infection or mange on his face (I can't see clearly). His coat is a little dull, but I am sure that would be a glossy brown after a few weeks of a good puppy food and a bath. I would recommend that you take him to the vet for a good checkup. They can test him for intestinal parasites and check for mange. They can also get him started on proper vaccinations to protect him against common puppy diseases.