Information on Parasites and Common Illness in Puppies

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Giardia and Coccidia are the two most common parasites your puppy could host. Both have similar symptoms and need a stool sample to determine which treatment is necessary.

Giardia is a single celled parasite that lives in the intestinal tract which is the most common intestinal parasite that is found in humans and dogs.  Giardia is picked up by ingesting contaminated water, soil, or feces. 

Symptoms include:

• Diarrhea- Moderate to severe, if the infection is more severe then you may see mucus or blood in their feces 
• Foul smelling gas
• Decreased appetite
• Frequent urges to poop

If one of my puppies gets diarrhea, I deworm them with Fenbendazole which is a very safe medication  found in the brand names “Safe-guard” and “Panacur”.

If the Fenbendazole doesn't clear up the diarrhea then I’ll take a stool sample to my vet to find out if he has any or what kind of parasites. Sometimes they also get diarrhea from a food sensitivity or from stress (leaving his/her home to be with their new family, new water, and new food).

 These are small, one-celled parasites that live in the wall of the intestine. Coccidia is most common in puppies but can also infect adult dogs and cats.  They cause disease most commonly in puppies and kittens less than six months of age, in adult animals whose immune system is suppressed, or in animals who are stressed in other ways such as change in ownership and environment, for example.  As a puppy ages, he tends to develop a natural immunity to the effects of coccidia. As an adult, he may carry coccidia in his intestines, and shed the cyst in the feces, but experience no ill effects. All dogs have some level of Coccidia in their gut. When a dog is stressed, the stress can cause the Coccidia to flair up causing diarrhea. The solution is to give the dog ALBON. 

Symptoms include:  

• Diarrhea that’s watery or bloody or has mucus 
• Weight loss
• Dehydration
• A wax like coating on the coat of small newborn puppies

How can your pet develop Coccidia? Simply by ingesting soil or feces that has Cocci in it.  Puppies are more susceptible because they do not have a strong immune system yet.

This can be treated by getting a prescription from your vet and picking up the feces being sure to kill the bacteria with bleach spray after picking it up.

Keep your puppy away from highly trafficked areas such as dog parks.

Puppies are born with worms and need deworming when they are young as well as maintenance every spring and every fall when they are grown up.

I deworm my puppies with  Pyrantel Pamoate  before they are 6 weeks old to remove round worms, hook worms, pin worms, and Other strongyles . This is a single dose treatment.

After 6 weeks old, I use Fenbendazole (Safeguard) to remove more types of worms including tapeworms and whipworms. This is a 3-5 day treatment.

I recommend buying Safeguard granules to sprinkle on their food for routine deworming after you bring your puppy home.

Puppies can become dehydrated very quickly and can become lethargic and die within days.

If you purchase your puppy in the summer heat, please be especially aware of how long you expose your puppy to the elements outside. I recommend short periods of time when pottying and bringing in your puppy if he starts panting. No walks on hot days and always be conscious of your dogs pads on their feet. Never walk them on the road or paved trails which will burn their feet.  Giving your puppy 1/4 cup of coconut water is fantastic for rehydrating your puppy.