Meet Rocky—a 9-week-old mixed breed puppy who came to us after being found as a stray. Like many little ones with an unknown start, Rocky had a few bumps in the road before he could begin his happy, healthy life.
What brought Rocky in?
Rocky’s new family noticed patches of hair loss and some crusty, itchy spots on his face, ears, chest, and paws. He also had some uninvited guests… fleas.
What we found
After a full exam and diagnostics, Rocky was dealing with quite a lineup:
- Ringworm (a contagious fungal skin infection—not actually a worm!)
- Fleas
- Multiple intestinal parasites including roundworms, hookworms, coccidia, and tapeworms
For such a tiny guy, that’s a lot—but thankfully, all treatable.
How we treated Rocky
We created a plan to tackle everything step by step:
- Medications to eliminate intestinal parasites
- Flea prevention to stop the itch and reinfestation
- Medicated antifungal baths to treat the ringworm
- Oral antifungal Medication to treat ringworm
- Supportive care and monitoring while his immune system catches up
Because Rocky had so much going on, we held off on vaccines initially until he was a bit stronger—giving him the best chance to respond well.
At-home care (very important!)
Ringworm can spread to other pets and people, so we recommended:
- Limiting close contact with high-risk individuals (young kids, elderly, immunocompromised)
- Keeping Rocky in a clean, contained area
- Frequent cleaning of bedding and surfaces
- Treating other pets in the home if needed
The good news
With the right treatment and a dedicated owner, puppies like Rocky bounce back quickly. His itch will settle, his hair will regrow, and those parasites will be a thing of the past.
Why this case matters
Stray and rescue pets often come with hidden health issues—but early veterinary care makes all the difference. Rocky’s story is a great reminder that even the toughest starts can turn into happy endings with a little help (and a lot of love).
We can’t wait to see Rocky back for his recheck—and hopefully starting his vaccines soon like the healthy pup he’s meant to be. ??
Want to help pets like Rocky? Schedule a new pet exam early and keep up with routine parasite prevention—it goes a long way!