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Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

Last post 11-20-2007 2:15 AM by janet_rose. 6 replies.
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  • 11-16-2007 8:44 PM

    Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

    Iposted this on the illness board too, but thought I'd try both sites in the hopes of getting some advice very quickly.

    My son took in 2 very young pups. They are cocker/beagle/weiner dog crosses.  They are very small. They were told that the pups were 7 weeks old but I doubt that. I think they are younger. They both have worms and are bloated. I went to my vet and got some Strongid for them today. A few minutes ago my son called and said the smaller pup is now vomiting worms and although she eats, she throws it up.  They called two vets - one told them to have the pup put down.  The other one said to try the wormer and see what happens. 

    Any advice? I do not think the smaller one will make it if things don't change quickly.

    Dogs are proof...God not only loves us and wants us to be happy, but He also has a great sense of humor and likes to hear us laugh!!!
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  • 11-16-2007 11:17 PM In reply to Poodle_luvr

    Re: Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

    I am not a vet, but I would stop feeding the smaller pup solids.  That may stop the vomiting for a while.  If it does then give the wormer.

    After giving the wormer, do not immediately start back with solid food.  Wait a few hours and give some Nutri-Cal (concentrated high calorie paste from the pet store) and some plain Pedialyte (grocery store).  If the pups don't like the Pedialyte, add a small amount of chicken broth.

    Strongid will get roundworms (probably the worms you are seeing) and hookworms.  It will not kill whipworms or tapeworms.  If the pups survive, worm again in two weeks.  The worming procedure described in the thread below is gentle, cheap, and will get all four types of worms (but not flea tapeworms):  http://community.dog.com/forums/p/66446/518946.aspx#518946

    Tomorrow I would continue with Nutri-Cal and Pedialyte with an occasional bite of a good canned food.  Skip the grocery store stuff.  Go to a feed store and see if you can get some Innova (or a different low-grain food).  Grains are hard for a dog to digest.  Innova is made by Natura and there is a store locator on their site (http://www.naturapet.com).

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  • 11-17-2007 2:34 AM In reply to janet_rose

    Re: Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

    Thank you very much. We will try this, starting in the morning.
    Dogs are proof...God not only loves us and wants us to be happy, but He also has a great sense of humor and likes to hear us laugh!!!
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  • 11-17-2007 11:22 AM In reply to Poodle_luvr

    Re: Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

    How are the pups this morning?

    Please be sure that your son knows how extremely malnourished these pups are.  The chances are good that the pups got roundworms in their mother's milk and maybe from her system before they were even born.  The worms have been competing for every bit of nutrition that these pups ever got.

    Roundworms encyst in a dog's tissues so completely getting rid of them is going to be a long fight.  As soon as pups are over 4 weeks of age and weigh more than 2 pounds, your son can get them on Interceptor(link) [for heartworms] which kills most intestinal worms.  Heartworm meds are obtained from a vet or via prescription.  I prefer Interceptor over Heartgard because Heartgard contains two pesticides, does not kill whipworms, and I consider the low heartworm med dosage to possibly be too low to be totally effective. 

    By alternating Interceptor and Safe-Guard (the gentle wormer I mentioned in my first post) every two weeks until the pups are six months would reduce the roundworm load enough that I think Interceptor once a month should be sufficient.  You will want to replace a dose of Safe-Guard with a different wormer from the vet if a fecal test finds that the pups also have flea tapeworms.  Neither Interceptor or Safe-Guard kills that type of tapeworm.

    The pups may also have the parasite Coccidia(link) so they may also need a med for that.  "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."

    If these were my pups, I would use Dr. Jean Dodds' vaccination protocol(link) .  That means not vaccinating until 9 weeks and vaccinating only for Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy DPV).  See the chart for the rest of the schedule.  You may have to call around to see who carries that particular vaccine.

    I am not quite as conservative as Dr. Dodds.  I would add a single shot for parainfluenza and adrenovirus sometime after the pups are 9 months.  I will find the name of one of those vaccines for you.

    It is generally recognized now that dogs have been overvaccinated in the past and it is suspected that immune system problems have resulted..

    2006 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines For the General Veterinary Practice
    http://www.kentuckydachshundrescue.com/vaccinating_your_pet.htm 

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  • 11-17-2007 1:12 PM In reply to Poodle_luvr

    Re: Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

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  • 11-20-2007 1:41 AM In reply to Poodle_luvr

    Re: Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

    Update: Both pups are doing much better. The Strongid has helped a lot. Thank you for all the great advice and support. We appriciate it very much.
    Dogs are proof...God not only loves us and wants us to be happy, but He also has a great sense of humor and likes to hear us laugh!!!
    • Post Points: 0
  • 11-20-2007 2:15 AM In reply to Poodle_luvr

    Re: Very sick pup - need advice quickly, please!!

    Poodle_luvr:
    Update: Both pups are doing much better.

    Delighted to hear it!  I hope they continue to do well.

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