PLEASE HELP - Tia Rose

[JCarlson2004]

Ok guys, please help me figure out what is wrong with my princess. When I brought her home Thursday night, she had a little bit of diarrhea. Then Friday, she had 1 normal poop and then diarrhea again. Today (Saturday) she has only had diarrhea all day plus some blood mixed in with it. She also threw up 3 times so far. I've been hydrating her with nutrical and pedialyte w/ sugar in it. If she gets any worse, I'm going to take her to the emergency vet tonight. She is eating ok and drinking water but she just keeps having diarrhea. What could be wrong?

I just lost my mom and my Katie Lyn. I can cope with losing my Tia next, I just can't handle it. Please help.

[Marie]

Oh, Jenn, Im so sorry that Tia Rose is sick. She may have coccidia. I think I will take her to the vet ASAP. I will have her in my prayers for her to get better soon. Please keep us posted.

[Julz]

Oh man! Did you call the breeder? He sounded very caring. Sounds like....oh....I can't think of it, but it is something like "conciddia" and can be treated. Call the breeder and tell him her symptoms and ask if little Tia Rose had it when she was still with him. Please let us know how she is.

[JCarlson2004]

Could it be coccidia? I called Ivan today and he gave me some "Albon" and told me to give her 1 CC in a syringe once a day. He set up an appointment at his vet for Tia tomorrow morning. But if Tia gets any worse, I'm taking her to the ER vet tonight.

[Julz]

I see Marie and I were posting at the exact same time.

[yorkieusa]

Oh, Jenn, I'm so sorry. I don't have any idea, but I checked the Shooterdog site and it has this:

What shall I do for my Yorkie's bloody diarrhea and what is HGE?

HEMORRHAGIC GASTRIC ENTERITIS
Hemorrhagic Gastric Enteritis is a serious threat to all dogs, but particularly dangerous to the smaller breeds.
Is it Parvo, Corona, Giardia, or Cambylobacter Enteritis? Any kind of bacterial diarrhea can quickly dehydrate an animal and the tinies are in great peril as they have little weight to lose before they are dehydrated and need IV rehydration.
Your dog can be infected by a walk in the park, or at a dog show, or other congregation of dogs. Anywhere from 2-10 days from exposure, your dog can come down with this problem, starting with vomiting, lethargy, refusing to eat, and progressing to mucous covered stool, loose stools, profuse diarrhea and bloody diarrhea.
Though it is important that your dog is placed on wide spectrum antibiotics, it is important that a culture be done first so that you know exactly what bacteria you are treating. Many cases of Hemorrhagic Gastric Enteritis are treated with a combination of Amoxicillin and Flagyl, but both these drugs will probably be recommended by your veterinarian at the first sign of bloody diarrhea and vomiting. DO NOT waste time, particularly with the smaller breeds, as they have little reserves to lose fluid thru diarrhea, especially bloody diarrhea. My vet has instructed me to go ahead and give the Amoxicillin 50 mg two times a day (toy dogs) and if there is no change in 12 hours to bring the dog in for further evaluation. I have seen severe bloody diarrhea, bright red blood, stopped after administering Amoxicillin as my vet instructed, along with kaopectolin or other anti diarrhea agent from your vet. In a more severe case, he also had me give Flagyl at the same time. Consult your veterinarian for proper dosage by weight of your dog.
http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq3.htm#HGE

[Fran42478]

That is what I was thinking as well...

http://www.peteducation.com:80/artic...&articleid=727

I am saying a prayer she feels better...

XoXoXo
Fran and Sammi

[JCarlson2004]

It sounds like she has coccidia. Can anyone please tell me as much info about it as possible. I am doing a search on google. I want to know exactly what I am dealing with. My poor little baby is so sad. Please pray for her.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Fran42478

That is what I was thinking as well...

http://www.peteducation.com:80/artic...&articleid=727

I am saying a prayer she feels better...

XoXoXo
Fran and Sammi

Thank you Sam. This info is EXCELLENT -- I printed it out.

[simonandhallie]

What about girardia? Simon had that when I got him and had serious diarhhea for a few weeks (it's caused from bacteria in water). The vet put him on antibiotic medicine! Just a thought! I will be thinking of you and little Tia Rose!

[Fran42478]

Jenn --

When I took Sammi home from Ivan @ 14weeks...He gave me Albon and said give it to her for a week with some pill...Flagyl (spelling might be off) i think was the name of it...If you dont wanna wait take her to the emergency vet...Maybe there is something they can do instead of waiting for tomorrow...

[yorkieusa]

Coccidia (Coccidiosis): A Cause of Diarrhea
Race Foster, DVM
Marty Smith, DVM
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


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).

In dogs and cats, most coccidia are of the genus called Isospora. Isospora canis and I. ohioensis are the species most often encountered in dogs. Regardless of which species is present, we generally refer to the disease as coccidiosis. 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. Since young puppies, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in great numbers and parasitize the young animal's intestines. Oftentimes, this has severe effects.

From exposure to the coccidia in feces to the onset of the illness is about 13 days. Most puppies who are ill from coccidia are, therefore, two weeks of age and older. Although most infections are the result of spread from the mother, this is not always the case. Any infected puppy or kitten is contagious to other puppies or kittens. In breeding facilities, shelters, animal hospitals, etc., it is wise to isolate those infected from those that are not.

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 by the authors 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 are the risks?

Although many cases are mild, it is not uncommon to see severe, bloody diarrhea result in dehydration and even death. This is most common in animals who are ill or infected with other parasites, bacteria, or viruses. Coccidiosis is very contagious, especially among young puppies. Entire kennels may become contaminated, with puppies of many age groups simultaneously affected.

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.

Fortunately, coccidiosis is treatable. Drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon®) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen®) 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.

Cockroaches and flies can mechanically carry coccidia from one place to another. 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.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=727

[yorkieusa]

This tells about giardia:

Giardia (Giardia canis)
Holly Nash, DVM, MS
Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


Giardia are protozoa (one-celled organisms) that live in the small intestine of dogs and cats. Giardia are found throughout the United States and in many other parts of the world. Infection with Giardia is called 'giardiasis.'

There are many things we do not know about this parasite. Experts do not agree on how many species of Giardia there are and which ones affect which animals. Veterinarians do not even agree on how common Giardia infections are and when they should be treated. Generally, it is believed that infection with Giardia is common but disease is rare. There is much about the life cycle we do not know either.

How do Giardia reproduce and how are they transmitted?

Giardia multiply by dividing.

A dog becomes infected by eating the cyst form of the parasite. In the small intestine, the cyst opens and releases an active form called a trophozoite. These have flagella, hair-like structures that whip back and forth allowing them to move around. They attach to the intestinal wall and reproduce by dividing in two. After an unknown number of divisions, at some stage, in an unknown location, this form develops a wall around itself (encysts) and is passed in the feces. The Giardia in the feces can contaminate the environment and water and infect other animals and people.

What are the signs of a Giardia infection?

Most infections with Giardia are asymptomatic. In the rare cases in which disease occurs, younger animals are usually affected, and the usual sign is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be acute, intermittent, or chronic. Usually the infected animals will not lose their appetite, but they may lose weight. The feces are often abnormal, being pale, having a bad odor, and appearing greasy. In the intestine, Giardia prevents proper absorption of nutrients, damages the delicate intestinal lining, and interferes with digestion.

Can Giardia of dogs infect people?

This is another unknown. There are many species of Giardia, and experts do not know if these species infect only specific hosts. Sources of some human infections have possibly been linked to beavers, other wild animals, and domestic animals. Until we know otherwise, it would be wise to consider infected animals capable of transmitting Giardia to humans.

You may have heard about Giardia outbreaks occurring in humans due to drinking contaminated water. Contamination of urban water supplies with Giardia is usually attributed to (human) sewage effluents. In rural settings, beavers most often get the blame for contaminating lakes and streams. Giardia outbreaks have also occurred in day care centers fueled by the less than optimal hygienic practices of children.

How do we diagnose giardiasis?

Giardiasis is very difficult to diagnose because the protozoa are so small and are not passed with every stool. Tests on serial stool samples (one stool sample every day for three days) are often required to find the organism. Special diagnostic procedures, beyond a routine fecal examination, are necessary to identify Giardia. The procedures we use to identify roundworms and hookworms kill the active form of Giardia and concentrate the cyst form.

To see the active form, a small amount of stool may be mixed with water on a microscope slide and examined under high magnification. Because these forms have flagella, you can see them move around on the slide. The active forms are more commonly found in loose stools. If you ever have the opportunity to see the active form of Giardia under the microscope, take it! It is an interesting-looking creature. It is pear-shaped and its anatomy makes it look like a cartoon face, with eyes (which often look crossed), nose, and mouth. Once you see it, you will not forget it.

Cysts are more commonly found in firm stools. Special solutions are used to separate the cysts from the rest of the stool. The portion of the solution that would contain the cysts is then examined microscopically.

In spring, 2004, a diagnostic test using ELISA technology became available. This test uses a very small fecal sample, and can be performed in 8 minutes in a veterinarian's office. It is much more accurate than a fecal examination.

We have done the tests, now what?

Now we come to how to interpret the test results. It can be a dilemma for your veterinarian. What you see (or do not see) is not always a correct indication of what you have. A negative test may mean the animal is not infected. However, few, if any, laboratory tests are 100% accurate. Negative test results can also occur in some infected animals. If a negative test occurs, your veterinarian will often suggest repeating the test.

What about a positive test? That should not be hard to interpret, right? Wrong. Giardia can be found in many dogs with and without diarrhea. If we find Giardia, is it the cause of the diarrhea or is it just coincidence we found it? The animal could actually have diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection, and we just happened to find the Giardia. Test results always need to be interpreted in light of the signs, symptoms, and medical history.

If we find Giardia, how do we treat it?

Here we go again; treatment is controversial too. There is a question about when to treat. If Giardia is found in a dog without symptoms should we treat the animal? Since we should not know if G. canis can infect man, we often err on the side of caution and treat an asymptomatic infected animal to prevent possible transmission to people.

If we highly suspect infection with Giardia, but can not find the organism, should we treat anyway? This is often done. Because it is often difficult to detect Giardia in the feces of dogs with diarrhea, if there are no other obvious causes of diarrhea (e.g.; the dog did not get into the garbage several nights ago) we often treat the animal for giardiasis.

There are several treatments for giardiasis; some of them have not been FDA approved to treat giardiasis in dogs. Metronidazole is one of these, but is the old standby. The nice thing about this drug is that it also kills some types of bacteria that could cause diarrhea. So if the diarrhea was caused by bacteria, and not Giardia, we still kill the cause of the diarrhea and eliminate the symptoms. Makes us look pretty sharp! Unfortunately, metronidazole has some drawbacks. It has been found to be only 60-70% effective in eliminating Giardia from infected dogs. In some dogs, it can cause vomiting, anorexia, and some neurological signs. It also can be toxic to the liver in some animals. It is suspected of being a teratogen (an agent that causes physical defects in the developing embryo), so it should not be used in pregnant animals. Finally, it has a very bitter taste and many animals resent taking it.

Quinacrine hydrochloride has been used in the past, but is not very effective and can cause side effects such as lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, and fever.

A newer drug, albendazole, has been shown to be 50 times more effective than metronidazole and 10-40 times more effective than quinacrine hydrochloride in killing Giardia in the laboratory. It has not been approved for use in dogs. Some serious side effects of albendazole have been noted, including injury to the bone marrow. Since it may also cause birth defects, it should not be used in pregnant animals.

In a small study, fenbendazole, which has been approved for treatment of roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm infections in dogs, has been shown to be effective in treating giardiasis in dogs. It is safe to use in puppies.

A combination of praziquantel, pyrantel pamoate, and febantel has also been shown to decrease cyst excretion in infected dogs.

This table summarizes the information above.


(continued)
http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=739

[megan_kat22]

Oh my, I wish you and your new baby the best! Please let us know how she is, and good luck! You and Tia are in my prayers.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Fran42478

Jenn --

When I took Sammi home from Ivan @ 14weeks...He gave me Albon and said give it to her for a week with some pill...Flagyl (spelling might be off) i think was the name of it...If you dont wanna wait take her to the emergency vet...Maybe there is something they can do instead of waiting for tomorrow...

The problem is that Ivan isn't in tonight. I've been calling ALLLLL day and I spoke to his assistant Vincent. Ivan left some Albon for me at the store and I picked it up today. The article said the if the puppy had been at the new home for less than 13 days, then he already had coccidia because the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about 13 days. So Tia had coccidia BEFORE she I took her home.