Will my dog need to be shaved for an ECG and where are wires placed?

Hi there. Normally, it is not necessary to shave a spot on a long-haired dog in order to give a vaccination, as you should be able to feel where the skin is when you pull it up to make a "tent" before giving the shot. But if you feel that shaving would help you be more confident about being able to give the injection accurately, then go head and do it :)

An electric shaver is safe, but removing hair in one area of a dog won't help you get rid of the fleas. I promise, they are all over him! Chase needs to be on a good quality monthly flea preventative. Bathing will help remove fleas that are currently on him, but it won't prevent new ones from hatching in days or weeks. Bathing will also decrease the efficacy of topical flea preventatives. I would recommend having Chase examined by a vet so he can be started on an oral flea preventative. It may take up to 3 months to completely rid your house of fleas. Here is some more information on how to treat fleas: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/flea-control-and-prevention/

I know giving injections is daunting but I bet you are already doing a wonderful job. I like to use the skin behind the neck or between the shoulder blades. Pinch it up to make a "tent". Stick the needle in the center of that tent and parallel with the body. If you are using an insulin needle, you could be able to go all the way to the hub. Afterwards, the fur shouldn't be wet in that area. If it is then you may be putting it in the hair and not the skin. If you are unsure, you could always schedule an appointment at your vet clinic for someone to WATCH you do it so they can give you any helpful hints on what to do differently. If they don't have a time available for when the actual insulin is due to be given, just ask them to put some saline in the syringe and you can inject that for the demostration. I hope this helps!

It depends on the type of heart condition, as there are many. Tests to evaluate heart disease can include x-rays, ultrasound, or electrocardiogram to check his heart rhythm and electrical activity. Depending on the condition it may be beneficial to avoid strenuous exercise. I'd recommend discussing it with your veterinarian.

It really depends on how aggressive and painful the dog is. Some dogs are great but others who are painful or just endured trauma are not always the most compliant patients. A tight hug and minimal restraint is enough for non-painful/non-aggressive dogs. More painful or aggressive dogs may need a muzzle, more restraint, and sometimes sedation to fully examine and address the wounds.

You are right there can be injuries to the neck you can't see through the fur. The little one could have been bitten around the neck, and a bite from another dog can lead to an infection in this area. You can try to shave around the area to see if there is a bite mark, and if there is, I would gently clean the area with warm water and an antiseptic soap. Monitor the area for signs of swelling, redness, warmth to the touch, and pus. These are signs of infection, and if you see them, you will need to take him into the vet for an exam. If he won't allow you to shave the area and becomes very agitated, then I would take him into the vet to have the area shaved and examined.

There are a few things that can cause this to happen: loss of hair where the microchip was placed (if he has one), reaction to a topical medication like (Bravecto, Frontline, Revolutions, etc), skin mites, topical allergic reaction, trauma.....just to name a few common things. To me this looks like a reaction to a topical product. The reaction does not always happen immediately and can take weeks or months to show up depending on what phase of growth the hair was in when it was damaged. I would not be overly worried but it would be best to have your vet check it out. Hope this helps. Best wishes.