Awww thank you girl, your post was so sweet! It really made me feel good to read that because alot of the time I just feel so bad that I can't help her more when she's sick :( I know that sometimes things are just totally out of our hands (I guess it's the same thing with KIDS)...but I really do TRY :(

Tate and Steddy send Emma and Milli lots and lots of hugs and thank you again for your sweet post! :hug:

Glad little Tatum is going to get better now that she has some meds. Little doll! Yes, you are a good mommy and don't ever think you're not!

Awww thanks Denise, you are so sweet girl! :hug: I feel so sorry for her too, I just hate when my babies are sick :( I am just glad though that she is on meds now and hopefully they will start working SOON and everything will be all cleared up! I will keep everyone posted :)

I actually asked my vet about Stedman....he knows that Stedman is about a year and a half old and said that at THIS POINT, he isn't too worried about him - BUT...he said that if I see any signs or if he starts having runny stools, to bring him in immediately and he will put him on medication as well. However, Tatum's breeder wants me to have tests run on Stedman just to be on the safe side. I guess I will call the vet tomorrow and ask him what I should do...but I'm sure he will just tell me what he already told me today when we went in..

Here is some info, all about Coccidia. I attached a pic too (can you tell I've been doing my homework? LOL)



What on Earth is Coccidia?

Coccidia are single celled organisms that infect the intestine. They are microscopic parasites detectable on routine fecal tests in the same way that worms are but coccidia are not worms and they are not visible to the naked eye. Coccidia infection causes a watery diarrhea which is sometimes bloody and can even be a life-threatening problem to an especially young or small pet.

Where does Coccidia Come From?

Oocysts (pronounced o'o-sists), like those shown above, are passed in stool. In the outside world, the oocysts begin to mature or “sporulate.” After they have adequately matured, they become infective to any host (dog or cat) that accidentally swallows them.

To be more precise, coccidia come from fecal-contaminated ground. They are swallowed when a pet grooms/licks the dirt off itself. In some cases, sporulated oocysts are swallowed by mice and the host is infected when it eats the mouse. Coccidia infection is especially common in young animals housed in groups (in shelters, rescue areas, kennels, etc.) This is a common parasite and is not necessarily a sign of poor husbandry.

What Happens Inside the Host?

The sporulated oocyst breaks open and releases eight sporozoites. These sporozoites each finds an intestinal cell and begins to reproduce inside it. Ultimately, the cell is so full of what are called “merozoites” that it bursts releasing the merozoites which seek out their own intestinal cells and the process begins again. It is important to note how thousands of intestinal cells can become infected and destroyed as a result of accidentally swallowing a single oocyst.

As the intestinal cells are destroyed in larger and larger numbers, intestinal function is disrupted and a bloody, watery diarrhea results. The fluid loss can be dangerously dehydrating to a very young or small pet.

How Is Coccidia Detected?

A routine fecal test is a good idea for any new puppy or kitten whether there are signs of diarrhea or not as youngsters are commonly parasitized. This sort of test is also a good idea for any patient with diarrhea. The above illustration demonstrates coccidia oocysts seen under the microscope in a fecal sample. Coccidia are microscopic and a test such as this is necessary to rule them in. It should be noted that small numbers of coccidia can be hard to detect so just because a fecal sample tests negative, this does not mean that the pet is not infected. Sometimes several fecal tests are performed, especially in a young pet with a refractory diarrhea; parasites may not be evident until later in the course of the condition.

How is Coccidiosis Treated?

We do not have any medicine that will kill coccidia; only the patient’s immune system can do that. But we can give medicines called “coccidiostats” which can inhibit coccidial reproduction. Once the numbers stop expanding, it is easier for the patient’s immune system to “catch up” and wipe the infection out. This also means, though, that the time it takes to clear the infection depends on how many coccidia organisms there are to start with and how strong the patient’s immune system is. A typical treatment course lasts about a week or two but it is important to realize that the medication should be given until the diarrhea resolves plus an extra couple of days. Medication should be given for at least five days total. Sometimes courses as long as a month are needed.

The use of sulfa drugs in pregnancy can cause birth defects. Sulfa drug use can also lead to false positive test results for urine glucose.

Can People or Other Pets Become Infected?

While there are species of coccidia that can infect people (Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium, for example), the Isospora species of dogs and cats are not infective to people. Other pets may become infected from exposure to infected fecal matter but it is important to note that this is usually an infection of the young (i.e. the immature immune system tends to let the coccidia infection reach large numbers where the mature immune system probably will not.) In most cases, the infected new puppy or kitten does not infect the resident adult animal.

Oh girl, I am so sorry to hear about little Juju bean!!!! That POOR BABY!!! :( Oh my gosh...you must have been worried SICK! Just like I was/am :( I know that these meds will help Tate, but I still just can't help but feel so sorry for my little baby girl :( I just look at her sweet face and I know that there is something inside her that is making her feel bad and it makes ME feel bad :cry:

How old little Juju bean now??? Is she a little better??? Gosh I hope so! :( Our vet gave Tate Panacur also...just for precaution...as well as Amoxi Drops, Albon, and Pro-Pectalin. She has to take meds FIVE times a day :cry: The poor baby!!!

Also, what you mentioned has crossed my mind sooo many times...about her getting RE-infected. OMG, I seriously HOPE that does not happen! I tell you, these little ones are just SO sensitive and they can catch stuff so EASILY! You really do have to watch them like a HAWK but even that won't stop them from coming in contact with stuff :(

SIGH....I just want my little girl better :(

Thanks Nicole! And you know...this may sound silly and selfish, but I swear....with everything that crossed through my mind, thinking of her having to STAY overnight without me was one of the things that I was seriously freaking out about :( I mean, of course if she HAD to stay for some reason, she would of....but just the thought of having to leave her up there - omg...it nearly killed me :cry: She is such a momma's girl and even cries when I walk out of a ROOM and see can SEE ME...so the thought of having to leave her overnight for some reason, was just really making me freak out :(

So GLAD that didn't have to happen! :thumbup:

So glad to hear that you got little Oz all better as well...it is just so scary when our little ones get ANYTHING :(

UGH....so sorry to hear about your sisters puppy that had this as well :( But I AM glad to hear that it was cleared up within a couple of weeks....that makes me feel better! It hope it goes that quick with Tate!

Hey girl, thanks so much :) We got everything all figured out now (it's Coccidia :() but she is on meds...just can't wait for them to actually start WORKING.

Another 2 thumb's up for Dr. Beck! :D ;) He's great, isn't he! :D :thumbup:

Thanks girl...all your positive thoughts meant so much to us. EVERYONE'S did. I don't know what the heck I'd do without my friends...and my YT family :D

Going to reply back to your PM in just a few! And I need updates on little miss as well :cry:

Hugs to the babies!

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your info and help :) We actually found out today that Tate has Coccidia :cry: But she has been put on meds so hopefully that will start clearing everything up SOON. I want my little girl WELL again! :(

I'm sorry to hear that :( Rocky, Bella and I are all sending her get well wishes and hugs!

Awwww, well of course I don't like hearing that Hootie AND Lamar had it (omg, poor babies!!!!!) but I am just so RELIEVED to hear from people that it clears up so fast! I just cannot wait for these meds to start working!

I swear I am going to be doing the happy dance when she has her first FIRM POOP again, LOL!

Thanks so much Rebecca, and BIG HUGS!! :hug:

Thanks V :) I honestly don't know how long it will take to get all of the bacteria cleared out either....dummy me of course forgot to ask the vet that :rolleyes: I just had my mind on listening to everything HE had to tell me....that I forgot to ask a few questions of my own :( I have to call him back tomorrow and ask him about Stedman....so will ask him about all of the bacteria that she has as well :(

Thanks again V...you are such a sweetie and I will be sure and keep everyone updated on her condition!

Thanks Des! I remember you telling me that Tiger had it when he was little....sounds like quite a few of our babies have :(

And you can definitely BET that I will be keeping my eye on her! I tell you, I have never actually SAT AND WAITED for one of my babies to POOP :D But I am now! LOL...just curious to see if it has firmed up any.

Thanks again for everything Des and the babies and I send you and Tiger and Annika big hugs!

Thanks so much girl :) Hubby actually took me out for a nice dinner tonight (we had Mexican :D) and we didn't have wine...but there was a Margarita involved :D lolol :p

Thanks girl, you are SO SWEET! I am giving Tatum a great big hug, just for you! It shouldn't be TOO stressful for me :D :p