[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by SoCalyorkiLvr

Coccidia usually lies dormant in puppies and is "activated" so to speak by stress. I doubt she had it when she left the breeder and it probably developed when she was moved from one place to another so many times.

Wow, thanks for keepin' me on my toes and learning! I hope everyone else is as interested in this subject as some of you seem to be.

In answer to the last question, there is no way for the breeder to know if the puppy has coccidia before it leaves. If you read my post #21 in this thread where I pasted an article from a vet about coccidia, it states that a fecal test is needed to determine if a puppy has coccidia or not and that quite frequently they will test negative on the first test and have to have several fecal tests for it to show up. The parasites are microscopic and cannot be seen by the naked eye.

It is also common for the parasites to be activated by stress when a puppy's immune system may not be as strong to ward it off. This stress is common when a puppy goes to it's new home. So, ergo, the puppy may not have had the condition when it was at the breeder's.

I don't think that a fecal test is a routine test for a breeder to do before a puppy leaves even if they have had a prior incidence of coccidia. They would obviously do it if a puppy left and there were still littermates left when it is discovered that the one who left first in fact developed coccidia.Maybe the breeders on here know if it is a common practice to do fecals before a puppy leaves. It is obviously a good idea when you take a puppy to the vet for the first time but I don't think even then that a fecal is routine during a first exam. At least I don't remember it being so. I think it is only done if there is diarhea or some other reason to suspect some problem but I may be mistaken and I am sure you will correct me if I am. I know it costs about $50 because when Chai had a cold and had a runny stool, I took a sample in with me and they tested it.

It sounds from the responses to this thread that some breeders do send the albon in the puppy care package and some don't. It must just be a personal preference for some and I don't really think any of you are trying to say that the good breeders don't send it and the bad ones do because that really makes no sense imo. The albon is not harmful if the puppy doesn't have coccidia. Why not be safe since it is so common? Coccidia is not a sign of poor breeding practices. Again refer to the source I quoted in post #21. It sounds like you disagree with that.

As for not sending a puppy with a preventative dose of anything...I welcomed my breeder's emergency low blood sugar kit since I purchased two tinies, neither of which had had a previous hypoglycemia episode, but it is always better to be safe since we know it is common in yorkie puppies, as well as the tube of nutrical she provided. Why not be prepared?

Yes, if I pay a large amount for my puppy I want everything she can give me. I got crates, blankets, carriers, toys, written instructions, books, food, pedialyte, and all sorts of goodies, including the first vet visit prepaid. I think they were great. I received this treatment from both breeders I bought from. hey are both friends now.