Puppy Emergency - Update - She's better - It was Cocci

[ruth]

My GP puppy, approx. 10 weeks old, became very lethargic Thursday evening and would not eat. We kept her inside and the next morning were greeted with the most awful foul smelling yellow diarrhea all over the floor of the room she stayed in (I still haven't gotten rid of the smell). DH rushed her to vet. Vet could not get a stool sample but looked at her gums which were light and thought she had a worm issue and prescribed Panacure which we gave her yesterday and this mornng. This morning she seemed better - was up and moving around. Tonight she's vomiting clear watery vomit (with some grass in it) and has the awful foul smelling yellow diarhhea. The smell is something I've never encountered and can't even describe how awful.

We called the vet and poor thing hid in her laundry room to talk to us because it was after 10 p.m. and the Easter Bunny had already come to her home and she didn't want to wake her kids. She's a great vet. After describing tonight's events, still won't eat, very lethargic but will drink, and that awful diarreah, (but NO blood in it), vet thought Cocci and prescribed Sulmet which we had on hand.

BUT...the more I'm reading on-line, the more it points to Parvo and one article even said that since it's often mistaken for Cocci that giving sulfa drugs worsens the dehydration and can cause death. It also seems there is no cure for Parvo, just try and keep the puppy alive and from dying of dehydration. The vet said since she was still drinking to add the vitamin/electrolytes to her water (again on hand for chickens).

Does anyone have experience with a puppy with Parvo and/or Cocci and/or Hook Worms.

I'm so worried about my little "Polish Bear" - she just lays there and seems to have lost weight almost over night. But I also have her brother, who isn't showing any signs of being sick but I'm worried either way he will catch what she has. Vet told us to give him the Sulmet and Panacure as well.

 

[AHappychick]

My cat got cocci many years ago (actually I believe that is why my chicks get it still in their brooders) he almost died and had to spent 3 nights at the vet and then was on strong meds (dont remember the name) for quiet a while. He recovered fully and is still around causing trouble. I dont know about the other desieses but maybe you could do an IV thats what they did for my cat and it made a big difference in those first few critical days. I would think it would be helpful for the other disease as well.

Hope he gets better!

 

[ruth]

Thanks - I told the vet I have needles and syringes on hand and can do a sub-q shot of water if need be but so far she seems to be drinking. Hasn't eaten more than one bite of food each evening.

Of course it's a holiday weekend, almost midnight, and the vet isn't back in town till Tuesdays anyway. It's a small town and she works here 4 days a week. She just saw these puppies for the first time a couple of weeks ago when we got them. When we told her who the "breeder" was she said "Well I know before even examining them, they have a huge worm load and ear mites". And yes, they did. But now it seems this one has something else as well.

 

[conny63malies]

Has she been vaccinated for Parvo?

 

[ruth]

Quote:
I don't think so, but I don't know. I think the vet just gave them whatever normal puppy shots they get at 6 weeks old. But from what I've read, it takes several Parvo shots until the age of 20 weeks to "prevent" Parvo - or until their own immunities build up. So even if she got the Parvo shot, she could still get Parvo.

 

[Appaloosa Hill Farm]

A dog we adopted from the shelter came down with parvo. I can tell you this--Parvo has a distinct smell...once you smell it, you'll remember it forever. Sounds like what you're smelling. Our dog did survive--he was 6 months old and weighed 40ish pounds. We administered water/glucose water with an oral syringe and fed him cooked ground beef mixed with cottage cheese (no real reason for this mixture of food other than that is the only thing he'd eat). It took about 5 days of round the clock care and liquid administered with the oral syringe, but he pulled through. We lost him 4 years later to a massive coronary, unfortunately. He was a fantastic dog. I wish you luck and hope your little one can make it through. I agree that taking him to the vet for an IV is the best choice if he won't accept liquid or is too weak to make an effort. Keep us updated if you don't mind.

 

[momma's chickens]

Ruth, I have no advice for you, just wanted to let you know I am sorry and I will be praying for your puppy! (((HUGS)))!

 

[Appaloosa Hill Farm]

Quote:
I don't think so, but I don't know. I think the vet just gave them whatever normal puppy shots they get at 6 weeks old. But from what I've read, it takes several Parvo shots until the age of 20 weeks to "prevent" Parvo - or until their own immunities build up. So even if she got the Parvo shot, she could still get Parvo.

Yes, our dog had been given a parvo injection about 3 days prior to becoming ill.

 

[ruth]

Just went and pulled the vet bill from their last visit. They both got the "DA,PPCVK" shot - whatever the heck that all is. There is another shot listed under vaccinations "CCV/CPV" which is not checked off and that one may be the parvo vaccine (I'm guessing the CPV stands for Canine Parvo - but that's just a guess).

 

[Lorettawyandotte]

It sounds like Parvo to me...got lots of experience with puppies...fluids is the key...there is not much of a "cure." Supportive care until it passes is all there is...you might try getting a couple tubes of Nutri-Cal and giving the pup a dose of that every few hours...it is calorie dense and may help...it will at least give the pup some energy and nutrition, if it can actually hold it down...