A sudden change in the type of food, giving an unfamiliar treat, or feeding table scraps, stress of flying, can cause a bout of diarrhea.
Diarrhea caused by food changes or water changes (ie to well) can often be resolved at home,
so long as the diarrhea is not severe, and the dog continues to act and feel normally.
Withholding food for 24 hours will allow the dogs digestive system to settle down
(while continuing to encourage water consumption).
After 24 hours, small amounts of a bland diet, such as white rice and chicken, can be offered.
If the diarrhea subsides, you can gradually place the dog back on their original diet,
and transition slowly to the new diet. If the diarrhea does not improve, or gets worse,
veterinary treatment may be required.
Coccidia and or Giardia, are both very common protozoal infestations
that may rear their head on an otherwise healthy puppy if stressors of travel, change in living occur.
Both have the exact same clinical symptoms of diarrhea and is usually the main cause of loose stools in a puppy.
Treatment is 3 days or up to 14 days of oral liquid, powder or Pill medication that you can obtain over the counter or through the Vet.
see below for more information on Coccidia.
Amino B-Plex
Supplies patients with beneficial amounts of B complex vitamins, aqueous liver fractions
and essential amino acids in a highly palatable format that is easy to administer to small sized patients.
Might be helpful in puppy getting nutrience giving .5 of the dropper 2x a day
Coccidiosis:
We have included this information on Coccidiosis because we have had incidences of our pups being diagnosed with Coccidiosis and or Giardia infection (giardiasis) in the past with pups getting it only after arriving to their new homes. This was most puzzling to us, when we received a complaint, as the pups were healthy while in our care and Vet checked perfect.
We began doing fecal exams, testing the pups for Coccidia and Giardia
and still all tests came back negative while in our care.
After more research and consultation with a Vet, we discovered that exhisting parisites or even recent exposure, may only be detectable when brought on, by the stressors of the new environment and or travel,
even while they have had no signs or symptoms prior to this.
Unfortunately our moms do roam our 1 acre property, go to dog shows and can be exposed to Coccidia and or Giardia from eating critters such as mice, rabbits and even their feces if they were infected, despite our best practices and our strict cleaning routines and also deworming regime.
If your puppy's loose stools persist we encourage you to "TREAT" for Coccidia and Guardia.
DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON TESTING.
(Do consult with your Vet)
Reason I say this is because the testing can yeld a false negative. Treating a healthy uneffected puppy with Safeguard or Fenbendazole (Panacur®) is not harmful and is more cost effective than continual ineffective testing and retesting.
Safegaurd (which contains Fenbendazole) or Panacur (also containing Fenbendazole) is a 3 day treatment that is repeated. Of course any bedding or contaminated areas must be cleaned with bleach as well and the puppy washed if they have fecal matter on them to prevent reinfection. This is not a pleasant infection to have to deal with and we hope that no one experiences this with their puppy, but it is treatable. Safe-Guard is a powder that you mix with tin food and is available at:
Walmart, PETCO, Petsmart, Canadian Pharmacy, Lambert Vet Supply, Jeffer's Pet Supply
Parvo is a highly contagious disease characterized by diarrhea that is often bloody.
IF your puppies stools are shooting out of them, bloody and loose and smell VERY VERY foul, (you can not mistake
the FOUL horrible smell of parvo), your puppy needs to get to the Vet ASAP because they probably have parvo !
We hope by providing you with this information that should your puppy have unexplained diarrhea you can begin treatment with Safe-guard or Panacur soon as possible. Both are safe for 6 week+ pups, easy to administer and costs under $10.00 and you do not need to get a Vet to obtain it. Some people elect to just automatically give safe-guard the day they get their puppy as a preventative measure.
*Web Page Liquid Panacur Dosage for Dogs*
Do not spend money on testing for it as you can get false negatives.
What
are Coccidia?
Coccidia are small protozoans
(one-celled organisms) that multiply in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats,
most commonly in puppies and kittens less than six months of age, in adult
animals whose immune
system is suppressed, or in animals who are stressed in other ways
(e.g.; change in ownership, other disease present). As a puppy ages, he tends
to develop a natural immunity
to the effects of coccidia. As an adult, he may carry
coccidia in his intestines, and shed the cyst
in the feces, but experience no ill effects.
How
are Coccidia transmitted?
A puppy is not born with the coccidia organisms in his intestine. However, once born,
the puppy is frequently exposed to his mother's feces, and if the mother is shedding
the infective cysts
in her feces, then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop within their intestines.
What
are the symptoms of Coccidiosis?
The primary sign of an animal
suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea.
The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the
level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced
cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become
dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease. Most infected puppies
encountered are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of coccidiosis should always be considered when a loose stool
or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A
microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a
diagnosis.
What
is the treatment of coccidiosis?
It should be mentioned that
stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis.
It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at his new home and
develop diarrhea several days later leading to a
diagnosis of coccidia. If the puppy has been at the
new home for less than thirteen days, then he had coccidia
before he arrived. Remember, the incubation period (from exposure to illness)
is about thirteen days. If the puppy has been with his new owner several weeks,
then the exposure to coccidia most likely occurred
after the animal arrived at the new home. Safe-Guard
or Panacur also treats Giardiasis
another common cause of Diarrhea in pups.
Safe-Guard
is available at:
Walmart, PETCO, Petsmart, Canadian Pharmacy, Lambert Vet Supply, Jeffer's Pet Supply
(and is a 3 day treatment)
Fortunately, coccidiosis
is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon®)
and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine
(Tribrissen®) Fenbendazole/Panacure
(Safe-Guard), have been effective in the treatment and prevention of coccidia. Because these drugs do not kill the organisms,
but rather inhibit their reproduction capabilities, elimination of coccidia from the intestine is not rapid. By stopping the
ability of the protozoa to reproduce, time is allowed for the puppy's own immunity
to develop and remove the organisms.
How
is coccidiosis prevented or controlled?
Because coccidia is spread by the
feces of carrier animals, it is very important to practice
strict sanitation. All fecal material should be removed. Housing needs to be
such that food and water cannot become contaminated
with feces. Clean water should be provided at all times. Most disinfectants do
not work well against coccidia; incineration of the
feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water, or a 10% ammonia
solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing.
Mice and other animals can ingest the coccidia
and when killed and eaten by a dog, for instance, can infect the dog.
Therefore, insect and rodent control is very important in preventing coccidiosis.
The coccidia species of dogs and cats do not infect humans.
Treatments for Giardias in dogs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Trade Name | Dose Rate | Duration of Treatment |
| Metronidazole | Flagyl | 25-30 mg/kg bid** | 7 days |
| Furazolidone | Neftin | 4 mg/kg bid* | 10 days |
| Tinadazole | - | 44 mg/kg once daily | 7 days |
| Fenbendazole | Panacur *** | 50 mg/kg once daily | 3 days |
| Albendazole | Valbazen | 25 mg/kg bid | 2 days |
| bid | Twice daily |
| * | Maximum daily dose 200 mg |
| ** | Contra-indicated in pregnancy |
| ** | Licenced for the treatment of worm infections in dogs |
Coccidiosis and Giardiasis are both very common protozoal infestations that have the exact same clinical symptoms; therefore,
it is recommend by Beagles Unlimited, that both protozoans get treated one right after the other: coccidia for 10 days and then giardia for 5 days.
Once again, treat coccidiosis with Sulfadimethoxine (Albon) and giardiasis with Metronidazole (Flagyl), or Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard).
By using Fenbendazole as a deworming treatment, then you are already attacking any giardia protozoans in your puppy.
I deworm all my poodles both spring and Fall and also the moms the same time as I do their pups.
However Beagles Unlimited (who with having hunting dogs are far more experienced) treat their dogs, during the first three days of every other month using Fenbendazole (Panacur).
This is the exact same, three-day Fenbendazole treatment recommended by many Vets for ridding your animals of giardiasis.
For more information on using treatment with Fenbendazole as a very effective, yet inexpensive dewormer read the article:
Canine Intestinal Worms and Inexpensive Treatment.
FROM BEAGLE'S UNLIMITED :
Coccidia Treatment in a multi dog household
...+...
... = 
Di-Methox (Sulfadimathoxine) Concentrated Solution 12.5%...+... Dyne high calorie suppliment... = Albon
BEAGLE'S UNLIMITED RECCOMENDED TREATMENT FOR:
COCCIDIOSIS in a multi dog household
mix 5 ounces of Dyne High Calorie Supplement with 4 ounces of the Sulfadimethoxine 12 1/2% solution = Generic Albon
Dogs should receive: 1 teaspoonful of this 5% Albon Oral Suspension mixture
per 10 lb of body weight (25 mg/lb or 55 mg/kg) as an initial dose,
followed by ½ teaspoonful per 10 lb of body weight (12.5 mg/lb or 27.5 mg/kg)
every 24 hours thereafter for 10 days.
The medication may be administered in food or water, given as a drench orally.
BEAGLE'S UNLIMITED
RECOMMENDED TREATMENT FOR: GIARDIASIS :
= 
= 
Fenbendazole is the active ingredient.
Panacur requires a prescription and Safe-Guard liquid (often sold for horses or goats) and Safe-guard powder do not.
Dog dewormer eliminates roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and Taenia tapeworms
and commonly used in treatment of Giardia
WHERE TO BUY THE MEDICATION FROM :
safe-guard oral suspension 10% 1000ml bottle
$19.00 100ml bottle from Wammocks
$115.00 1000ml bottle from Pet Source
$113.00/1000ml bottle from: Lambert Vet Supply
$500.00/Gallon from Greater Medical
Panacur 1000ml = $139.00
Lambert Vet Supply
$70.00 Albon 5% 16 oz
Lambert Vet Supply
Di-Methox (Sulfadimathoxine) Concentrated Solution 12.5%, Gallon (to make generic "Albon")
$36.00/Gal from Lambert Vet Supply
$30.00/Gal Dyne high calorie suppliment
Lambert Vet Supply