Coccidia - What to Expect?

[AutumnDot]

I just bought a baby Yorkie last Thursday (born 04-01-07) and she's been diagnosed with Coccidia. I've been giving her Albon for 6 days now. She's 1.7lbs. Yesterday was bloody/mucous and today pretty much water. What more should I expect?

I'm so broken hearted by her lack of...anything. She won't eat, she won't walk, except to go in the grass to poop (water), and I have to feed her baby food/Karo with a syringe.

She also had a low sugar attack last Friday night and was VERY bad off by the time I got her to the vet the next morning. They had to give her two shots of Dextrose in two hours. Vet felt so bad for me (I was a totoal blubbering idiot) that he took her home with him for the weekend! I'm now giving her NutriCal throughout the day because she won't eat anything. I've tried baby food, dog food(s), french fry, burger patty from McDonalds...nothing! She'll sniff but turn her head away. Is her tummy upset from the Coccidia?

It just seems she's going downhill and I don't know what to do! I'm fixing to go to the store to buy Pedialyte, however, she does drink water when I take her outside but after reading about Coccidia, I'm afraid it is/will dehydrate her.

I just need some advice from others who have gone through this too because I have always had big dogs and have a 3yr old Cocker Spaniel and I've never had this kind of problems with a new puppy!

[Sewgramy]

If you have not already you need to get your puppy to a vet immediately. HGE is a very serious condition which has the mucousy, bloody poops and anorexia (not wanting to eat) is a major part of the condition. It can kill a small puppy in hours. GO TO THE VET, even an emergency vet. Your puppy needs support with fluids and antibiotics immediately.

[Jan L.]

Keep up what you are doing with the Karo & see that she drinks plenty of fluids.
Also keep her away from any other dogs.
Have you talked to her breeder?

Welcome to YT. Sorry you are starting out with a sick baby.

[red98vett]

I think you do need to get back to the vet asap too - that should already be clearing up - you may want to try another vet or double check that medication because she should NOT be having that many symptoms after 6 days - and she MUST eat...there's something else going on poor baby

GOOD LUCK !

ps - have an ER hospital number ready just in case - too many people don't know where the closest is and it's good to have all that information at your fingertips JUST IN CASE

[MissPinkBarbie]

I'm so sorry your new baby is sick. I think you should take her to see the vet. The condition might just worsen and she is already so small.

Please keep us all updated on her.

[Rusty's Momma]

When I bought Sophie back in March she did the EXACT same thing but only after 1 day of getting her 9(picked her up on a Sunday). I had her to the vet the day after I bought her(Monday), her bloodsugar was 37 and of course not eating, drinking etc....
they started me on stuff, I was up EVERY 1 1/2 giving her Nutri-cal, making sure she was respondant and not dropping sugar etc... Tuesday night she absolutely almost died, got her pulled out of her almost coma like state then her Wednesday I took her back to the vet and asked them to keep her for monitoring, fluids, meds and a bile acid test (needed to make sure she didnt have a liver stunt too). She had lost 3 ozs in those 3 days. She weighed 1.6 when I bought her and 1.3 when I admitted her into the hospital. NOT good for babies that little to loose so much so fast.

I tell you this much..... the puppy I picked up Thursday night was a COMPLETELY different dog than what I picked up on Suday from the breeder. She was a "puppy" not a lying around, do nothing dog. Sophie was kissing me, making her way all around my face and neck. She was soooo different that my comment to the vet was..."Did you guys giver her speed or something?" I LOVED it and from that day forward she has been a PURE JOY!! We did have to do 2 rounds of albon after that day but if you saw her now you would NEVER guess she was sooooo sick.

There IS hope and if you get it taken car of quickly, you will enjoy a very playful, happy baby!!!
Good luck and I will keep watching for updates on your baby

P.S. ... I just want to note that the vet I use..... it is a 24 hour vet clinic/hospital with approx 6 vets on staff. I chose this vet because 1) I had heard good reviews 2) It was 24 hr. No matter what, no matter when I KNEW I could get them in to an office familiar with my babies. You might see if there is one near you. Mine is approx 25 minute drive but worth it to me

[AutumnDot]

Thanks for the welcome and replies!

I haven't called the breeder because of several reasons: 1) She's never called to check on the puppy 2) She didn't give me ANY advice about possible hypoglycemia etc. 3) her guarantee was only for 48 hours and if she dies in 30 days then I have to have an autopsy performed and then, only organs are covered. Sound on the up & up to you? I don't figure she will be of much help...

Dot wasn't like this when I picked her up from the breeder BUT she wasn 't running and jumping around either. The vet said that the hypoglycemia was caused by stress from being brought home (not eating/depressed) and from the coccidia, which started hatching because of the stress so, she had a double whammy from the get go at her new home.

I just wanted to see if the Albon was making her tummy upset and
see if maybe I should give her some Keopectate and how much? She isn't dehydrated but that is in the back of my mind also.

My vet told me all I needed to know about hypoglycemia and I've done alot of research about it as well. He also said that because of her age, she is still technically, or considered, very young compared to other dogs/breeds.

I'm sure she will grow out of all this once I get her past this critical stage/age/weight but until then I want to make sure she's not in any pain. I have to give her 7cc's of Albon for 10 days and today is the 7th day.

I'll call her vet's office tomorrow morning!

[Rusty's Momma]

Michelle,
48 Hrs???? That is hardly enough time to even get her to a vet for a vet check. I would DEFINATELY at least call the breeder and let her know what has gone on. The breeder I got Sophie from gave me 2 options, which I chose neither becuase I already loved her to much, they were 1) bring her back to her and let HER bring her back to good health or 2) bring her back and trade for her sister.

Good luck with getting her beyond this, please post if you have any other questions and OF COURSE with updates on Dot.

[red98vett]

Coccidia incubation time is 13 days - if your puppy came down with it in that time frame then she came to you with it....which means the breeders other puppies are infected too probably - and your breeder sounds just like Chanel's breeder was when she had it. She played dumb acting like she didn't even know what it was and then never took another call again after I told her what my vet told me.

your puppy should have already responded to the meds - you should not be seeing blood still -

[Sewgramy]

Forgive me for being too blunt and please let me know group if you think I am out of line with what I say.
Michelle I can't reinterate enough that this little girl needs vet care right now, not in the morning. If you have an emergency vet within 50 miles you need to get on the road. If you call your vets office they should have a recording of who to contact in an emergency. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. If she will not eat or drink the coccidia has progressed and you may be dealing with HGE. She needs supportive fluids and nothing to eat or drink until her system calms down. Due to her sugar problem you can't do this at home and keep her alive. You said she had a sugar drop on Friday and was pretty bad off when you got her to the vets in the morning. That should tell you that her problems that are this serious cannot wait until morning.
I apologize for being so blunt with my advice but I have bred yorkies for over 30 years and this cannot wait until in the morning.
Yvonne

[doortego]

Hi Michelle,

I live very near you and my puppy also had coccidia when I got her. You really need to take her back to the vet. If your vet doesn't seem sufficiently concerned, look for another one. I use Archer Road Animal Hospital in Baytown but they are not 24 hour. Abshier-Meuth on 146 in Baytown is and they are the ones who first diagnosed the coccidia in my pup.

Your puppy should not still be passing bloody, mucousy stools at this point and you really may not have much time to get this corrected if she is very small. If she is still running around and playing, it may be that she is not eating because of the Nutrical you are giving her but you cannot afford not to give it to her either.

Did they test her blood sugar when you took her in? Don't feel like a pest with the vet, or if you do, don't worry about it. You can always find another vet but this may be the only chance you have with this puppy.

I would love to know where you purchased your puppy. If you don't feel free to post that information, would you please pm me with it.

Please keep us updated. We are all concerned about your baby.

[Cheri]

So sorry to hear about your new puppy's problems. I, too, have been having many problems with my little Maggie who is 9 weeks. She was bought by a girl at work (who I bought her from because her little boy was not being gentle) from a breeder at 5 weeks, much too young. I am not sure how much more my nerves can take. I love this little puppy so much already but her problem does not seem to be getting better, after several trips to vet which is costing me more than I can afford. She was diagnosed with Coccadia also and has been on Albon for almost 2 weeks. She walks around hunched up in "pooping mode" 95% of the time and poops approx. 20 times a day. Her little bottom is so raw. I took her back to the vet Friday and he did an xray. He said she was full of poop and gave her an enema. She seemed to feel so much better when we got home and I thought that the problem may be resolved because she seemed normal for a few hours. Then yesterday we start over again....she constantly is pooping. I couldn't believe she had so much in her when she seems to go all the time. The vet said she may be holding back because she is so raw and it had built up in her. She wasn't raw yesterday when this started again but now she is again. I was holding her a little while ago and she went on me. Can't even hold her without her going! I feel your frustration and don't know what to do. I realized when I bought her there would be some expense involved and needed her for company. But, my financial situation will not allow me to keep taking her back to vet. I don't want to get rid of her. No one is going to buy her with this problem anyway. I have thought that if someone would take her that can spend more time with her (I work all day) that I would not even want the full amount paid. I just wish I had an answer. Why she goes so much...I don't know. Sorry, didn't mean to take over your post but I feel your pain and frustration. We want these little ones to be well. Still don't have camera to post pic but will have one soon I hope.

[Cheri]

By the way, I agree with everyone.....your baby seems to be having much worse symptoms than my Maggie with Coccadia. She does eat and plays (in between the poops). I have not seen bloody mucous in Maggie's poops. I can't even get in touch with the breeder who sold this puppy to the girl at work. The phone number has been disconnected and the lady met her with the pups. I have an address on the CKC form and wrote her a letter Friday. Doubt she will respond. I basically asked her if she always sells pups that young....grrrrrrr.

[red98vett]

For those dealing with coccidia or HGE - screw your breeders and talk to the vet - I know there are many caring ethical breeders out there but if you've already tried and are getting nothing - forget about them

just concentrate on getting your puppies better - that means see the vet and if you see no improvement - SEE ANOTHER VET.

sorry to sound like that - but we can't count on all breeders to help and they can't DO anything for you - it's ok to let them know your puppy is sick - but for medical attention emergencies - put the breeder out of your head

Sewgramy is right - these very young puppies can't go long without fluids and eating so treat this as an emergency if your puppy isnt responding or is lethargic

good luck !

[red98vett]

LOL ! I sounded like a raving lunatic ! didn't mean to - but I did want to stress that hypoglycemia - Coccidia & HGE in very young puppies is nothing to fool with. When a puppy isn't geting the fluids and food they need their dehydrated little bodies can go into convulsions or shock

Dehydration in a young puppy can happen VERY Easily - even with Syringe feeding.

I learned this the hard way because it COULD have happened to me ...I had to rush Chanel to the ER at 2 am due to her being lethargic ...it started 5 days after getting her and was coccidia - but the other symptoms are what could have ended her life - So it's very important any signs of illness are treated right away and if your puppy isn't responding to meds - CALL THE VET AGAIN please....

about the breeders - my opinion is ...A caring ethical breeder will walk you thru everything - a GREEDER will kick you to the curb once they have your money.