HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime.
Welcome, Guest
Username:
Password:

Please login to add/view friends online.


Quick Dog Breed Selector:
Quick Traffic Stats:
Visitors Online: 1,588
Today's Visits: 80,424
Yesterday's Visits: 115,470

Discussion Forums

Collapse Quick Menu

Message Central

Unread[0]
Inbox[0]
Trash[0]

Who's Online

allensvng2@centuryte, andrade, arganpoodles, bresue, canalpups, claragraber, corsomom, karapizzetti, klwainwri, lyndayoung, michele, nedoglover, nodogyet, pinloverx2, razoredgebullies, rottluvr, roupek, sassy, shafikovirik, sullys4jesus, twistsdream

Sick puppy question....
Worms, or something worse?
Found [18] Posts :: Page 1 of 1
<< Return to General Topics
Posted: 9:54:59 AM 2/18/2005
I recently purchased two 9-week-old lab mixes from the Humane Society. The puppies had worms when we got them, but they were being treated. The puppies are now 11 weeks old, still have the worms, and don't seem to be getting better. In fact, the runt seems to be getting worse. In addition to frequent diarrhea (which he's had since we bought him), he began pooping blood / mucus this morning. When we first got him, he had this big old worm-belly (as my mom called it), but in the past few days he's become extremely skinny. I mean, you can count his ribs. I've been giving him the same amount of food, but he continues to get skinnier. And he seems to be eternally thirsty. (Should I just let him drink as much as he wants, or moderate it??) I'm really worried that it's not the worms that are making him sick; I called a vet this morning, but she's all booked up. I'm trying to get ahold of another vet as we speak, but...

Is this something serious? Could it be Parvo, like my mom said? Or could it just be from the worms??? Any replies are appreciated.
Posted: 10:06:00 AM 2/18/2005
Take your puppies to the vet. Now, please.

They probably do not have worms anymore if you administered the worming medication as instructed. They have something else. Without looking at a stool sample under a microscope I cannot diagnose it. I can make the educated guess that they PROBABLY have Coccidia, a protazoan parasite (not a worm). It causes the symptoms you describe. Puppies can have this and it doesn't show up until they are stressed- like moving to a new home.

At any rate they NEED veterinary attention. Go. NOW.
Posted: 10:06:44 AM 2/18/2005
Ok- vet is booked up? Call another one.
Posted: 10:08:50 AM 2/18/2005
What kind of worms did they have? If they had hookworms, this type of worms is *extremely* persistent and hard to get rid of. Usually you have to treat them 3 or more times about 3 weeks apart to completely get rrid of the infestation. This is because the medication kills the worms, but not the eggs. So in 3 weeks, the eggs have hatched and new worms come out, ready to reproduce and lay more eggs. So you have to break the life cycle a few times to get it right. They can cause bloody stools, general lethargy, weight loss, etc. So you should probably take the pups to the vet for another treatment. Make sure you take stool samples and keep track of which came from which pup.

Now that said, a few breeds, including labrador retrievers, are extremely succeptible to parvovirus. If I were you I'd also be looking around for a vet that had a free spot to check and make sure your puppies are clear. Even puppies that have been vaccinated for Parvo can still get it.
Posted: 10:09:31 AM 2/18/2005
What kind of worm medicine are you using?
Posted: 11:46:30 AM 2/18/2005
If it was parvo you'd know. You'd post and ask why your puppy was having projectile vomit and stool composed of blood and would not move and this horrid odor had taken over your home.

Not all worm medicines are created equal. You must have something that takes outt he parasites your pups have. Could also be hooks, they are horirble and not the easiest to get rid of.
Posted: 1:06:56 PM 2/18/2005
Thanks, all of you.

I took him to the vet right after I posted (an emergency walk-in clinic) and they said he has an intestinal virus. We've got him on medication and some bland food now, so he should be better in a few days. :)

Now I'm off to go get some more puppy chow for his sister. :) Thanks again!
Posted: 1:11:09 PM 2/18/2005
You didn't say what kind of wormer you were using. You should only use Panacure, that is the only thing that gets rid of every type of worm.
Posted: 1:13:36 PM 2/18/2005
I have to say, Parvovirus *IS* an intestinal virus that affects the lining of the intestines, making it difficult for dogs to absorb water from food they've eaten. The water remains in the food and comes out as diarrhea. And the dog gets dehydrated because it's not getting the water it needs. Be careful that this doesn't worsen.
Posted: 1:25:54 PM 2/18/2005
The doctor said if he's not better (at least a little bit) by Monday, to bring him back in.

I didn't know that that's what the Parvovirus was...:/ Hmm. Well, he said he tested negative for it, so...I have to bring him back in next Friday, whether he got better or not so they can do a checkup. They may test him again: I'm not sure. I guess it all depends on the next couple days and if he gets better or not.

As a side note, I typed up a post a bit ago and I guess I forgot to post it:
I'm not sure what type of wormer the Humane Society was using. They didn't tell me. :/ Liz (the foster I bought the pups from) gets back on Tuesday (she's in Labelle right now) so I'll go get all of that information from her then.

Thanks again for your concern guys. I appreciate it. :)
Posted: 4:19:01 AM 2/19/2005
Ok first of all not so about the parvo. Many people confuse parvo and hook worm because of the blood and the smell. So it is not always easy to tell.

If it was parvo the dogs would be dead already this has gone on too long. It sounds like a parisiteic problem. Schedual your pups with thwe vet ASAP and in the mean time get some poly visol vitamin drops. anyone who has a new puppy in their house should have karyo syrup, peptol bismol, poly vi sol vitimins and gatoraid in the house at all times.

Karyo syrup helps fast when puppies begin to crash.
Pepto helps with the poops and with upset stomach.
poly vi sol infant drops are great at keeping a dog with worms and or parvo from becoming anemic.
And Gatoraid for dehydration. Most dogs do not like pedialite.

Check your pups gums and tongue often if they look any less pink then normal give them some vitimins. Puppies 5 weeks and younger usually get one dropper a day/6 to 10 wks get one and a half and above that get two until better. If your dog has milky white gums give the dog a dose of iron as described above only double it for the first two days.

Hook worm can kill a dog in a matter of 48 hours when they are really young but at your pups age it would be more like 72 or more.

With parvo it is the dehydration and anemia that kills them if you can controll that then the virus will run its course and they will survive. Tylan powder is great fo r a severe case of the poops so ask your vet about it. Strong stuff so only give as directed.

Posted: 4:21:22 AM 2/19/2005
oops mised the one where you took them already lol boy am I tired. Anywho glad you got it taken care of but keep the tips in mind anyway.
Posted: 8:37:28 AM 2/19/2005
Thanks pitsanddobes; I'll keep that all in mind. :)

When they first got the runs, mom bought some Kaeopectate (sp??), but it didn't seem to do anything. :/ Never thought of Pepto.

Thanks!
Posted: 9:48:09 AM 2/19/2005
That's not true about hookworms killing a dog in 24 to 72 hours. The vast majority of infected live with hookworms for weeks and weeks (albeit they'll be miserable and look horrible). In fact, most puppies get hookworms from their mother's milk or when the larva cross the placenta. If left untreated for a few months, yes Hookworms can end up causin the death of a dog.

Here's an info sheet on hookworms.

http://www.pethealthcare.net/html/body_canine_hookworm_infection.html
Posted: 2:00:31 PM 2/19/2005
Sounds like you have a pretty sick puppy. One thing that hasn't been mentioned that could be the problem is a parasite called giardia. It's a protozoan similar to coccidia. There is a snap test available, so ask your vet about it. I've seen a couple of dogs recently who came in to our vet clinic that showed similar symptoms and they were diagnosed with giardia. One was a pretty severe case. She got very dehydrated, so keeping the puppy hydrated is very important. Panacur is a good wormer that will kill giardia. Keep your home as clean as possible as giardia is contagious (as is every thing else that has been mentioned). I've seen them get pretty sick with, it but usually they do recover. Anyway, hope your puppy is feeling better soon!
Posted: 6:29:19 PM 2/19/2005
Oh yes, it is very true. We have lost an entire litter to hookworm that were just 2 weeks old. They started pooping pure blood and even though we got them treated it was still too late. The onset of the symptoms was almost immediate and the effect was rapid. Soon as we saw blood we were at the vet and it just didn't matter. The hookworms eat at the lining causing ulsers and once they are done in one spot they move to the next the previous spot is an ulserated sore that keeps bleeding. Each time to worms relocate the blood loss is twice the ammount it was before. This rapid loss of blood is what causes death to a puppy and the younger the pup the faster they deteriorate they become anemic and die from it. Four of the pups had blood transfusions to try to save them and they still died. Hookworm in young pups is nearly as dangerous as parvo. By the end of their third week after birth all but one had died. Each time a pup began bleeding the pup was dead within 48 to 72 hours. As I said the older the dog the better the dogs chances. I remember all too well what it was like to see my own husband bawl his eyes out as puppies died in his hands one by one. It was hard because we had to bottle and tube feed these pups because mom refused. I think after careing for that litter the first two weeks we had grown more attached and determined to save them then I could have ever imagined. Guess we cannot save them all.
Posted: 7:22:44 PM 2/19/2005
The pup I adopted at a year old had been unvaccinated since a couple months old. (She never returned to the vet after her first round of shots nor did she bother with rabies) The more I read, the more I think its a miracle this pup survived.
Posted: 9:06:29 PM 2/19/2005
"The more I read, the more I think its a miracle this pup survived."

Exactly what I was thinking. :/ Anybody actually adopt a healthy puppy? lol.

I feel bad for all of these pups, because unless you really pay attention, they could have a stomach-ache or something for a few days before anyone notices. Some could be sick with just diarrhea and you wouldn't know it was something serious until a few days or they start bleeding, etc. :/ It's not like they can tell you what's wrong. :(
<< Return to General Topics
 
Found [18] Posts :: Page 1 of 1
FIDO
BoneHeartCircleHydrant
Order Pet Tag
© Copyright 2003-2009 TerrificPets.com (a JCOM Designs, LLC company)

Dogs
 
Horses Cats