Common Puppy Diseases to
Guard Against
·
This is a
one-celled organism that can multiply in the intestinal tract of
dogs, most commonly in puppies that are less than six months
of age. Adult dogs are also susceptible if their immune
system is suppressed or stressed in other ways such as a change
in ownership or environment.
·
Most Coccidia are
of the genus called Isospora. Isopora canis and
I. ohioensis are the species most often encounter in dogs.
Regardless of which species is present we generally refer to the
disease as coccidiosis or coccidian.
·
As a puppy ages
it tends to develop a natural immunity to the effects of
Coccidia. As an adult it may carry Coccidia in its intestines,
shed the cysts in the feces, but experience no ill effects.
·
A puppy can
develop Coccidia from stress due to changes in their
environments, or stepping in potty. This protozoan
can cause diarrhea which can make your puppy very sick or in
some instance cause death by dehydration. For this reason a
fecal exam is needed at the Vet check.
·
If Coccidia is
caught early is can be treated with medication from your Vet.
·
Giardia is a
protozoan parasite that lives in the intestine of affected
animals.
·
A dog can become
infected with giardia by eating the
cyst form of the parasite. The organisms come
from the environment and live in moist to wet areas.
·
Giardia
in the feces can contaminate the environment and water and
infect other animals.
·
These small
parasites are very easy to miss on a fecal exam and may not be
present in the stool of animals infected with the organism.
·
Repeated fecal
exams by a Vet are sometimes
necessary to identify this parasite.
·
Not all animals
in which infection can be demonstrated have clinical signs. This
leads some people to believe that the parasite may not cause
disease. Most vets think that there may just be other factors,
like the animal's immune response to the parasite that cause
some animals to develop disease and not others.
·
Clinical signs
of giardia include weight loss, inability to gain weight
appropriately during growth, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of
appetite, and greasy appearing stools.
·
If your puppy has these symptoms
call your Vet for treatment.
·
These parasites
are susceptible to ammonium disinfectants, Lysol, and dilute
chlorine bleach. Keeping the dog's environment dry and
disinfected helps a lot.
·
Always
wash hands after touching infected puppy.
Mike Richards, DVM |
