Health Information
Table Of Contents:
Immunizations
Preventative Medicine
Stools
Poisonous Plants For Dogs
Coccidia
Giardia
Worms

IMMUNIZATIONS

Many canine diseases can now be prevented through vaccination.  A vaccination schedule prepared by your veterinarian can thus greatly contribute to good health and longer life span for your dog.  Below are the most important diseases for which vaccines are currently available.


Rabies: one of the world's most publicized and feared diseases, is almost always fatal.  Rabies virus attacks the brain and central nervous system, and is transmitted to humans chiefly through the bite of an infected animal.

Canine Distemper: is a widespread, often fatal disease.  All dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, starting with distemper-measles vaccination at 6 to 9 weeks of age.

Canine Adenovirus Type-1 and Type-2 (Hepatitis - CAV2 ) : cause infectious hepatitis and respiratory infection respectively.  Hepatitis caused by Adenovirus Type-1 may cause severe kidney damage or death.  Adenovirus Type-2 is an important factor in kennel cough.

Canine Parainfluenza:  is another cause of kennel cough.  Although Parainfluenza is often a mild respiratory infection on otherwise healthy dogs, it can be severe in puppies or debilitated dogs.

Canine Parvovirus: infection is a disease of widespread distribution which may cause severe dehydrating diarrhea in dogs of varying ages.  Parvovirus infection is especially dangerous for puppies.

Canine Coronavirus: infection is a highly contagious intestinal disease causing vomiting and diarrhea in dogs of all ages.  Especially in your puppies, dehydration from Coronavirus infection can be life threatening.

Canine Leptospirosis: is a bacterial infection which may lead to permanent kidney damage.  The disease is easily spread to other pets and to humans.

Canine Bordeteila (B. bronchiseptica):  may contribute to kennel cough.  This bacterial infection can occur alone or in combination with distemper, Adenovirus Type-2 infection, Parainfluenza, and other respiratory problems.

The vaccination of puppies (puppy shots) is one of the crucial steps in assuring the puppy will have a healthy and happy puppyhood. The who, what, why, when, where, and how of vaccinations are complicated, and may vary from puppy to puppy. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine which vaccines are appropriate for your puppy. To better understand vaccines, it is important to understand how the puppy is protected from disease the first few weeks of its life.

Protection from the mother (maternal antibodies)
A newborn puppy is not naturally immune to diseases. However, it does have some antibody protection which is derived from its mother's blood via the placenta. The next level of immunity is from antibodies derived from the first milk. This is the milk produced from the time of birth and continuing for 36-48 hours. This antibody-rich milk is called colostrum. The puppy does not continue to receive antibodies through its mother's milk. It only receives antibodies until it is two days of age. All antibodies derived from the mother, either via her blood or colostrum are called maternal antibodies. It must be noted that the puppy will only receive antibodies against diseases for which the mother had been recently vaccinated against or exposed to. As an example, a mother that had NOT been vaccinated against or exposed to parvovirus, would not have any antibodies against parvovirus to pass along to her puppies. The puppies then would be susceptible to developing a parvovirus infection.

Window of susceptibility
The age at which puppies can effectively be immunized (protected) is proportional to the amount of antibodies the puppy received from its mother. High levels of maternal antibodies present in the puppies' bloodstream will block the effectiveness of a vaccine. When the maternal antibodies drop to a low enough level in the puppy, immunization by a commercial vaccine will work.
The antibodies from the mother generally circulate in the newborn's blood for a number of weeks. There is a period of time from several days to several weeks in which the maternal antibodies are too low to provide protection against the disease, but too high to allow a vaccine to work. This period is called the window of susceptibility. This is the time when despite being vaccinated, a puppy or kitten can still contract the disease.

When should puppies be vaccinated?
The length and timing of the window of susceptibility is different in every litter, and even between individuals in a litter. A study of a cross section of different puppies showed that the age at which they were able to respond to a vaccine and develop protection (become immunized) covered a wide period of time. At six weeks of age, 25% of the puppies could be immunized. At 9 weeks of age, 40% of the puppies were able to respond to the vaccine. The number increased to 60% by 16 weeks of age, and by 18 weeks, 95% of the puppies were protected by the vaccine.   Almost all researchers agree that for puppies we need to give at least three combination vaccinations and repeat these at one year of age.

Drs. Foster and Smith prefer to vaccinate puppies with a combination vaccine at six weeks of age initially, with boosters given every three weeks until the puppy is about sixteen weeks of age. We feel that this schedule will help protect the widest range of dogs. We realize that with our protocol, we will be vaccinating some dogs that are not capable of responding, and we will be revaccinating some dogs that have already responded and developed a protection. But without doing an individual test on each puppy, it is impossible to determine when the puppy's immune system will be best able to respond. We also realize that in the face of an infection, due to the window of susceptibility, some litters will contract a disease (e.g., parvo) despite being vaccinated. By using quality vaccines and an aggressive vaccination protocol, we can make this window of susceptibility as small as possible. Our vaccination protocol may not be right for every puppy. Puppies that are not exposed to other dogs and have a very small chance of coming in contact with parvovirus, may not need to be vaccinated as frequently. At the same time, some 'high risk' puppies may need a more intense and aggressive vaccination program. It is best to work with your veterinarian on a vaccination protocol that is best for your individual puppy or kennel, taking into consideration your individual situation.

Against which diseases should puppies be vaccinated?
The AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents' Report on Cat and Dog Vaccines has recommended that the core vaccines for dogs include distemper, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus-2, and rabies.
Noncore vaccines include leptospirosis, coronavirus, canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica (both are causes of 'kennel cough'), and Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme Disease). Consult with your veterinarian to select the proper vaccines for your puppy.

A possible vaccination schedule for the 'average' puppy is shown below.


Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Age

Vaccination

5 weeks

Parvovirus: for puppies at high risk of exposure to parvo, some veterinarians recommend vaccinating at 5 weeks. Check with your veterinarian.

6 & 9 weeks

Combination vaccine* without leptospirosis.
Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.

12 weeks or older

Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (age at vaccination may vary according to local law).

12-16 weeks**

Combination vaccine
Leptospirosis: include leptosporosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs.
Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.
Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs.

Adult (boosters)§

Combination vaccine
Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs.
Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern.
Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs.
Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (time interval between vaccinations may vary according to local law).

*A combination vaccine, often called a 5-way vaccine, usually includes adenovirus cough and hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Some combination vaccines may also include leptospirosis (7-way vaccines) and/or coronavirus. The inclusion of either canine adenovirus-1 or adenovirus-2 in a vaccine will protect against both adenovirus cough and hepatitis; adenovirus-2 is highly preferred.
**Some puppies may need additional vaccinations against parvovirus after 15 weeks of age. Consult with your local veterinarian.
Bordetella and parainfluenza: For complete canine cough protection, we recommend Intra-Trac III ADT.

 

Time to produce protection
Vaccines do not stimulate immunity immediately after they are administered. Once a vaccine is administered, the antigens must be recognized, responded to, and remembered by the immune system. In most puppies, disease protection does not begin until five days post vaccination. Full protection from a vaccine usually takes up to fourteen days.

Why do some vaccinated animals still get the disease?
It is a fact that literally hundreds and perhaps thousands of vaccinated dogs are still contracting the diseases they were vaccinated against. Some term this 'vaccine failure,' although it is more likely a failure of the immune system to respond than a problem with the vaccine itself.
Parvovirus is a serious case in point. How can a puppy get the disease and possibly die if it was vaccinated? Unfortunately, for some reason the vaccine did not stimulate the immune system enough to protect the puppy from disease. The reason may be interfering maternal antibodies, the vaccines themselves, the dog's own immune system, or genetics. By far, the most common reason in puppies is interfering maternal antibodies.

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PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE

DEWORMER – STRONGID T (PYRANTEL PAMOATE)
Overview
       Most puppies and kittens are born with internal parasites or worms derived from their mother. These parasites may injure the pet and pose health risks to children who might eat soil contaminated with the feces of infected dogs or cats. Accordingly, veterinarians and public health officials advise pet owners to deworm puppies and kittens during the first few months of life.

Pyrantel pamoate is one of the most commonly used drugs for de-worming puppies and kittens. It can also be used for parasite control in adult pets and is relatively safe when administered to sick or debilitated animals requiring de-worming.

Pyrantel pamoate acts on the nervous system of certain parasites, resulting in paralysis and death of the worm.

Pyrantel pamoate is available over the counter but should not be administered unless under the supervision and guidance of a veterinarian.

Uses of Pyrantel Pamoate
Pyrantel pamoate is used to treat susceptible parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms. Since these intestinal parasites migrate through the body before residing in the intestine, follow-up de-worming is necessary.

REVOLUTION

What is Revolution?
Revolution is a safe and simple monthly topical medication used to protect your pet from heartworms, fleas, and ear mites. It also protects dogs from ticks and sarcoptic mange and cats from roundworms and hookworms. Revolution requires a prescription from your veterinarian.
For: Cats and Dogs (6 weeks of age or older).
 


Benefits:

•

Protects your pet from heartworms, fleas and ear mites, among other foreign invaders

•

Fights both internal and surface parasitic infections

•

Treats mange

•

Only administered once a month

•

Safe and easy to use

How it works:
Revolution works by penetrating the skin and entering your pet’s bloodstream. Concentrations of selamectin, the active ingredient, in the tissue and bloodstream prevent heartworm disease. Selamectin also redistributes into the skin from the bloodstream and kills adult fleas, American dog ticks, and ear mites, and prevents flea eggs from hatching. It’s also an antihelminthic, which means it fights to expel parasitic worms. Parasites ingest the drug when they feed on the animal's blood.

Cautions:
Side effects are uncommon with less than 1% of dogs showing signs of digestive to use Revolution in pets that are ill or underweight.

ADVANTAGE is a monthly flea preventative for dogs and cats. Advantage does not kill ticks. When you know your dog will be exposed to ticks, we recommend also using the Preventic Tick Collar for Dogs along with Advantage.

For:
Dogs (7 weeks of age or older)  
Cats (8 weeks of age or older)


Benefits:

•

Stops fleas from biting your pet in 3-5 minutes providing fast relief

•

Starts killing adult fleas within an hour and completely kills within 12 hours

•

Kills flea larvae in under 20 minutes

•

Safe, easy to apply

•

Considered one of the more gentle, yet most effective flea preventatives

•

Has the highest customer reviews ratings of all flea preventatives

•

Waterproof

How it works:
The active ingredient is imidacloprid, which acts on the nervous system of the flea to cause paralysis and subsequent death. Within 12 hours of application, 98-100 percent of fleas are dead. Advantage kills fleas before they lay eggs, so their life cycle is broken at multiple stages. It also kills flea larvae within 20 minutes of contact.

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STOOLS

Over the years I have seen my share of sick dogs and puppies. One of the most common problems we see with puppies is diarrhea.

This articled is intended to help people come to terms with puppy diarrhea. It is not intended to diagnose all of the causes of diarrhea or even to tell the reader how to cure the problem under every circumstance. It is simple intended to pass on some of the knowledge I have gained over the years when my puppies get sick.

I will explain the different kinds of diarrhea and pass on some of the options that I have learned that can be used by pet owners to control the problem of puppy diarrhea.

THERE ARE 4 KINDS OF STOOL
1- Normal Logs
2- Pudding Diarrhea- soft stools that will mound up
3- Brown Water Diarrhea
4- Brown Water Diarrhea with blood
We all strive for our dogs to have normal stool. If my dogs have a normal temperature (101 to 102 in dogs) and if they are laying logs I know that these are two important indications that the dogs are healthy. There are always exceptions to this rule (i.e. a dog with cancer) but in general this is a pretty accurate statement.

PARASITES AND DIARRHEA:
If a dog gets diarrhea as a result of parasites, the most common causes are Coccidia or Giardia. Both will cause diarrhea, but each requires different medication.

All dogs have some level of Coccidia in their gut. When a dog is stressed (i.e. being shipped, moving into a new environment etc ) the stress can cause the Coccidia to bloom and flair up causing diarrhea. The solution is to give the dog ALBON. How much and how it is administered is a question for your vet.

Humans get Giardia when they drink water that has fecal matter in it. When you go camping and drink water from a stream you can get Giardia. When dogs get Giardia they need to be treated with METRONIDAZOLE. It is difficult for a Vet to diagnose Giardia from a stool sample. It is best if the dog is at the vet who gets the stool sample right from the rectum of the dog. By doing this the sample is fresh and it’s easier to see the Giardia.

Both Coccidia and Giardia need to be diagnosed by a Vet and the medication needs to be dispensed by a Vet.

PUDDING DIARRHEA
When a dog had pudding diarrhea I know that there is something going on with the dog. Pudding sends up a small red flag and my kennel staff knows they need to tell me when we see it. That dog needs to be monitored until it is back to laying logs.
Pudding diarrhea can be caused from:

When I see pudding diarrhea I have my kennel staff add a little canned pumpkin their daily food ration. Canned pumpkin not only helps firm up stool's on dogs it also helps when they are constipated ( a strange thing - it helps in both ways).

If you feed a natural diet it is a simple thing to add pumpkin. The dogs will easily accept it. If you feed a kibble diet they may not want to eat it. In which case you may have to think about medication if the pudding gets too loose.

Some of the options are Kaopectate, Imodium AD (A full human dose either in liquid or pill).
You could also try a product called DiaBack. This is a homeopathic remedy that works for bacterial diarrhea symptoms. This can be used against e-coil, salmonella, diet, water changes, environment change, stress or food allergies.

BROWN WATER DIARRHEA
Brown water diarrhea is a serious situation; it’s a sign of a sick puppy. Brown water diarrhea cannot be ignored. When a puppy has water diarrhea you need to be very careful that the pup does not get too dehydrated. If you cannot stop the diarrhea within 24 hours you need to get it to a vet.

What I recommend new puppy owners do when they get their dog is to become familiar with what a healthy puppy feels like. By that I mean learn how loose his skin is. A healthy well hydrated pup has loose skin on his back. You can grab it and it will pull up and away from the muscle structure of the dog. When a pup begins to get dehydrated the skin feels tight. It is more difficult to pull it away from the body mass.

When this happens you need to re-hydrate this pup as quickly as possible. Start by making sure he has plenty of water to drink. You can also give the pup pedialyte. Go to the baby section of Wal Mart and buy unflavoured Paediatric Electrolyte. If the pup will not drink this by itself then try adding a little chicken broth (also found in the soup section at the grocery store).

When a dog has diarrhea it is a good idea to take the dog off solid food for a day. This allows the gut to rest. Dogs and pups can easily go for a day without food. They cannot go without water. So a dog that is drinking plenty of water is not as serious as a dog that will not drink.   Using a needle-less syringe to force a puppy to swallow water may be needed to get them to start drinking.
If a pup will not drink then it needs to go to your vet. The pup needs to go on IV fluids and receive the appropriate medical treatment. 

BROWN WATER DIARRHEA WITH BLOOD
If you see brown water diarrhea with blood in it you have a medical emergency. You need to get this puppy to the vet right now. If you wait for a day or two you very possibly could have a dead puppy. Pups can dehydrate and die within 24 to 48 hours unless they have medical treatment. It is beyond the scope of pet owners to deal with blood in diarrhea.

GENERAL COMMENTS:
One thing I would recommend is to be sure that you don't allow your Vet to give any vaccinations while your dog has any kind of issues with loose stools. You would also not want to give vaccinations while your dog is taking antibiotics. This can lead to long term health problems.
If your pup continues to have long term soft stools you may want to take a look at what you are feeding the dog. Some dogs can be sensitive to certain dog foods. To determine if this is the problem you should try and isolate the source of the problem.

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POISONOUS PLANTS FOR DOGS

PLANT

TOXIC AREA

Aconite

root, foliage, seeds

Aloe

 

Amaryllis

bulbs

Andromeda

entire plant

Apple

seeds

Apricot

pits

Asian Lily

 

Asparagus Fern

 

Arrowgrass

leaves

Atropa belladona

entire plant

Australian Crocus

 

Autumn crocus

entire plant

Avocado

skin, flesh, pits

Azalea

entire plant

Baneberry

berries, roots

Bittersweet

 

 

 

Bird of Paradise

pods

Black locust

entire plant

Bloodroot

entire plant

Boxwood

entire plant

Branching Ivey

 

Buckeye

sprouts, nuts, seeds

Buddist Pine

 

Buttercup

entire plant

Caradium

entire plant

Caladium

 

Calla Lily

 

Carolina jessamine

flowers leaves

Castor bean

entire plant

Ceriman

 

Charming diffenbachia

 

Chinaberry tree

berries

Chinese evergreen

 

Chokecherries

leaves, cherries, pits

Christmas berry

leaves

Christmas rose

rootstock, leaves

Chyrsanthemum

entire plant

Clematis

 

Cordatum

 

Corn plant

 

Common privet

leaves, berries

Corn cockle

seeds

Cowbane

entire plant

Cow cockle

seeds

Cowslip

entire plant

Cutleaf philodendren

 

Cyads

 

Cyclamen

 

Daffodil

bulbs

Day lily

 

Daphne

bark, berries, leaves

Death camas

entire plant

Delphinium

entire plant

Devil's Ivy

 

Dieffenbachia

entire plant

Dracaena

 

Dumbcane

entire plant

Dutchman's breeches

foliage, roots

Easter Lily

 

Elderberry

entire plant

Elephant's ear

entire plant

English Ivy

entire plant

Emerald feather

 

Emerald fern

 

European Bittersweet

entire plant

False flax

seeds

False hellebore

entire plant

Fan weed

seeds

Field peppergrass

seeds

Flamingo plant

 

Flax

seeds, pods

Florida beauty

 

Foxglove

leaves

Fruit salad plant

 

Geranium

entire plant

Glacier ivey

 

Gladiolas

 

Glory lily

 

Gold dieffenbachia

 

Gold dust dracaena

 

Golden pothos

 

Green gold nephthysis

 

Hahn's English ivey

 

Heartleaf Philodendren

 

Heavenly bamboo

 

Holly

berries

Horse-chestnut

nuts, sprouts

Horsehead philodendren

 

Horse nettle

entire plant

Hurricane plant

 

Hyacinth

bulbs

Hydrangea

 

Iris

leaves, roots

Japanese show lily

 

Japanese Yew

 

Jerusalem Cherry

 

Jack-in-the-pulpit

entire plant

Jasmine

berries

Jerusalem cherry

unripe fruit, foliage

Jimsonweed

entire plant

Jonquil

bulbs, leaves, roots

Lace fern

 

Lacy tree

 

Laburnum

entire plants

Larkspur

young plants

Laurel

leaves

Lily of the Valley

leaves, flowers

Lupine

sap, fruit

Macadamia nut

 

Madagascar dragon tree

 

Marble queen

 

Marigold

entire plant

Marijuana

entire plant

Matrimony vine

leaves, shoots

May apple

entire plant

Mexican breadfruit

 

Milk vetch

entire plant

Mistletoe

berries

Monkshood

entire plant

Mother-in-law

 

Morning glory

seeds, roots

Mountain Mahogany

leaves

Mushroom

entire plant

Mustard

seeds

Narcissus

bulbs

Needlepoint lily

 

Nephthytis

 

Nicotiana

leaves

Nightshade

leaves, berries

Oak

shoots, leaves, acorns

Onion

 

Oleander

leaves

Orange day lily

 

Panda

 

Peace lily

 

Peach

pits

Philodendron

entire plant

Plumosa

 

Poinsettia

entire plant

Poison Hemlock

entire plant

Pokeweed

roots, seeds, berries

Potato

shoots, sprouts

Precatory bean

 

Rattles box

entire plant

Red emerald

 

Red lily

 

Red-margined dracaena

 

Red princess

 

Rhododendron

leaves

Rhubarb

leaves

Rosary pea

seeds

Rubrum lily

 

Saddle leaf philodendren

 

Sago palm

 

Satin pothos

 

Schefflera

 

Spotted dumb cane

 

Striped dracaena

 

Swiss cheese plant

 

Sweethearet ivey

 

Stargazer lily

 

Skunk cabbage

entire plant

Smartweed

sap

Snow on the mountain

sap

Sorghum

leaves

Star of Bethlehem

entire plant

Sumach

entire plant

Sweet pea

seeds, pods

Taro vine

 

Tiger lily

 

Tomato plant

 

Tree philodendren

 

Tulip

bulbs

Tropic snow dumbcane

 

Velvet grass

leaves

Walnut

entire nut

Wild black cherry

leaves, pits

Wild radish

seeds

Wood lily

 

Wisteria

pods, seeds

Woody aster

entire plant

Yellow jessamine

entire plant

Yellow oleander

entire plant

Yellow pine flax

entire plant

Yew

bark, leaves, seeds

Yucca

 

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COCCIDIA

The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, become dehydrated, and in some instances, die from the disease.

Most infected puppies are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of cocci should always be considered when a loose stool or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a diagnosis. It should be mentioned that stress plays a role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at his new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of coccidia.

Coccidia are small one-celled organisms that live in the intestinal tracts of 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 (e.g.; change in ownership, other disease present). Remember, the incubation period (from exposure to illness) is about thirteen days.

Most coccidia are of the genus called Isospora. Isospora canis and I. ohioensis are the species most often encountered in dogs. 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.

A puppy is not born with the coccidia organisms in his intestine. However, once born, the puppy is frequently exposed to his mother's feces, and if the mother is shedding the infective cysts in her feces, then the young animals will likely ingest them and coccidia will develop within the young animal's intestines. Since young puppies, usually those less than six months of age, have no immunity to coccidia, the organisms reproduce in great numbers and parasitize the young animal's intestines. Oftentimes, this has severe effects.

From exposure to the coccidia in feces to the onset of the illness is about 13 days. Most puppies who are ill from coccidia are, therefore, two weeks of age and older. Although most infections are the result of spread from the mother, this is not always the case. Any infected puppy or kitten is contagious to other puppies or kittens. In breeding facilities, shelters, animal hospitals, etc., it is wise to isolate those infected from those that are not.

Although many cases are mild, it is not uncommon to see severe, bloody diarrhea result in dehydration and even death. This is most common in animals who are ill or infected with other parasites, bacteria, or viruses. Coccidiosis is very contagious, especially among young puppies. Entire kennels may become contaminated, with puppies of many age groups simultaneously affected.
Coccidiosis is treatable with drugs such as sulfadimethoxine (Albon®)and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen®). 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.

Because coccidia is spread by the feces of carrier animals, it is very important to practice strict sanitation. All fecal material should be removed. Housing needs to be such that food and water cannot become contaminated with feces. Clean water should be provided at all times. Most disinfectants do not work well against coccidia; incineration of the feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water, or a 10% ammonia solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing.
The coccidia species of dogs and cats do not infect humans.

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GIARDIA

Giardia are one-celled organisms that live in the small intestine of dogs. it is believed that infection with Giardia is common but disease is rare. A dog becomes infected by eating the cyst form of the parasite when it is passed in the feces.  Giardia in the feces can contaminate the environment and water and infect other animals and people.

Most infections with Giardia are asymptomatic. In the rare cases in which disease occurs, younger animals are usually affected, and the usual sign is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be acute, intermittent, or chronic. Usually the infected animals will not lose their appetite, but they may lose weight. The feces are often abnormal, being pale, having a bad odor, and appearing greasy. In the intestine, Giardia prevents proper absorption of nutrients,.

Giardia is very difficult to diagnose because the cells are so small and are not passed with every stool. Tests on serial stool samples (one stool sample every day for three days) are often required to find the organism. Special diagnostic procedures, beyond a routine fecal examination, are necessary to identify Giardia.

What you see (or do not see) is not always a correct indication of what you have. A negative test may mean the animal is not infected. However, few, if any, laboratory tests are 100% accurate. Negative test results can also occur in some infected animals. If a negative test occurs, your veterinarian will often suggest repeating the test.

Giardia can be found in many dogs with and without diarrhea. If we find Giardia, is it the cause of the diarrhea or is it just coincidence we found it? The animal could actually have diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection, and we just happened to find the Giardia. Test results always need to be interpreted in light of the signs, symptoms, and medical history.

There are several treatments for giardiasis, although some of them have not been FDA-approved for that use in dogs. Fenbendazole is an antiparasitic drug that kills some intestinal worms and can help control giardia. It may be used alone or with metronidazole. Metronidazole can kill some types of bacteria that could cause diarrhea. So if the diarrhea was caused by bacteria, and not Giardia, the bacteria can be killed and the symptoms eliminated. Unfortunately, metronidazole has some drawbacks. It has been found to be only 60-70% effective in eliminating Giardia from infected dogs.  It can be toxic to the liver in some animals. It is suspected of being a teratogen (an agent that causes physical defects in the developing embryo), so it should not be used in pregnant animals. Finally, it has a very bitter taste and many animals resent taking it.

But now we come to yet another unknown. It is possible these treatments only remove the cysts from the feces but do not kill all the Giardia in the intestine. This means even though the fecal exams after treatment may be negative, the organism is still present in the intestine. This is especially true of the older treatments. So treated animals could still be a source of infection for others. The cysts can live several weeks to months outside the host in wet, cold environments. So lawns, parks, kennels, and other areas that may be contaminated with animal feces can be a source of infection for your pet. You should keep your pet away from areas contaminated by the feces of other animals. This is not always easy.

As with other parasites of the digestive system, prevention of the spread of Giardia centers on testing and treating infected animals and using sanitary measures to reduce or kill the organisms in the environment. Solutions of Lysol, bleach, and quaternary ammonium compounds are effective against Giardia.

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WORMS

A. caninum is the most common hookworm and causes the worst disease. Dogs in the Northern states and in Canada are more likely to be infected with U. stenocephala as it prefers cold climates and A. caninum prefers warm climates.

  Hookworm infestation in dogs can lead to severe anemia, especially in puppies. These hookworms have big appetites and attach to the intestine and feed on the dog's blood. The other three types of hookworms are less likely to cause severe anemia but it is a potential problem with them. Signs of hookworm infection include weight loss, pale color, black or tarry looking stools, weakness, anemia and death. In areas in which hookworms are prevalent there can be skin disease in pets associated with exposure to the larval worms as well. The following are a list of clinical signs of hookworm infestation in canines:

      Hookworms can be acquired from the mother's milk, from penetration of the skin by hookworm larvae in the environment and from eating hookworm larvae. Some vets think that it may also be transmitted during pregnancy from mothers to puppies but this is controversial.
      One of the problems with hookworms is that they can accidentally infect humans. This creates a problem called cutaneous larva migrans, which loosely translates to worms migrating through the skin. Humans pick up the hookworm larvae from areas contaminated by dog feces and they penetrate the human's skin just like they would the dog's. Since they don't belong in the human they don't develop into adults but just migrate around in the skin, causing sores and inflammation, until they die. This is a good reason to keep dogs and cats from defecating in playground areas, beaches and other places where people's skin is likely to come in contact with the ground.
      Fortunately, the monthly heartworm preventatives are also effective at controlling hookworms and can provide a measure of protection against the possibility of the cutaneous larva migrans syndrome occurring in the humans that own dogs and cats on heartworm preventative medications. In areas in which heartworms are not a problem but hookworms are, it is a good idea to consider having a pet's stool examined for the presence of worm eggs once a year and when clinical signs that may indicate infestation occur.

 

Roundworms

Roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) are found in the intestine of dogs and are a major hygienic concern because they are transmissible to people. Because people get infected by ingestion of dirt contaminated with the feces of infected dogs, roundworm elimination should be the concern on every responsible pet owner. An average-sized dog passes 136 grams of feces daily and it is known that a dog with a "light" roundworm infection may pass 10,000 eggs in every gram of stool. If 12% of the 80 million dogs in America have "light" infections, 1,300 metric tons of dog feces containing 13 trillion roundworm eggs are discharged in the streets and lands of America every day!! In different surveys, 0.3 - 15% of soil samples and 7 - 31% of house yards or children's sandboxes contained roundworm eggs.

Your plan of attack to eradicate roundworm infection should be: to eliminate roundworm infection from dogs; to prevent dog defecation in areas frequented by people, and; to educate your family and friends about the risks and appropriate control measures.

Concerned pet owners should collect their pets' feces every day and place them in the garbage or burn it. Flushing the feces down the toilet is inappropriate because many eggs survive sewage treatment. There is some fear that roundworms may be passed by a puppy licking the owner. While the transmission rate through this avenue of infection is probably very, very low it is still a good idea to observe good hygiene and wash hands and faces after playing with the puppy. Also, Humans should clean vegetables grown in the garden before eating them. For most people, these preventative measures are just normal procedures but it is good to know there is a reason for all this caution!

Because pups may start passing eggs as early as day 21 of life, the first treatment must be administered before this age. Since reinfection is common from the environment as well as in the mother's milk, treatment must often be repeated every two weeks until the pups are 49 days old. In practical terms, this means treating pups at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Bitches should be treated at the same time as the pups since they are most often the source of the pups infection. All bitches should be presumed to be carriers of roundworms even if they have had negative fecals prior to whelping since the worms often persist in her system in a resting stage. The following list discusses how bitches carry roundworms and infect pups before they are even born:

            Once the initial infection is treated properly it is a good idea to occasionally check a stool sample for the presence of worms or to consider prophylactically administering deworming medications if the situation seems to warrant it. It is hoped that at some point in the future a vaccine will become available for roundworm control since current control measures seem to be only marginally effective. For the present however, routine treatment of pups and bitch, as well as environmental control are necessary and essential.

Tapeworms

    Tapeworms (Taenia pisiformis, Dipylidium canium, Enchinococcus granulosus, and Echinococcus multilocularis) are found in the intestine of dogs and are a major hygienic concern because they are transmissible to people. Dog-rabbit tapeworms (T. pisiformis) have a life cycle that starts with them living in the small intestines of wild foxes, coyotes, and wolves where they produce eggs that are shed in the feces and subsequently contaminate the local environment. Rabbits then become infected by ingesting these eggs which then form hundreds or even thousands of "hydatid cysts" in the tissues. When dogs or their wild cousins eat these rabbits they can be infected with hundreds to thousands of adults. These adults latch onto the wall of the intestines and after about a month, start shedding eggs. These eggs are then immediately infective to other animals, including people. To complicate matters further, these tapeworm eggs can remain infective in the environment for several months.

Infected dogs may seem clinically normal while shedding large numbers of infective eggs. The eggs are generally first seen in your dog's feces or sticking to the hair around your dog's rear. These specialized muscular egg cases are actually segments of the worm that are full of eggs and they look like a small, flattened, grain of white rice that moves. As the egg case wiggles around it is spreading thousands of tapeworm eggs which are too small for the naked-eye to see.

Adult tapeworms appear to cause very few clinical problems in dogs. However, this is the real point of concern since infected people are not as lucky. Alveolar hydatid disease in humans, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, is a very serious infection that usually involves the liver. Early in the course of the infection, patients may be misdiagnosed with other liver ailments. Involvement of other tissues, including the lungs and brain can also occur. Since over 50% of people with alveolar hydatid disease die, this is considered the most lethal worm infection that people get. It is therefore important for all dogs and cats in high-risk areas be screened for tapeworm infection. This is more difficult than it sounds since infection with Echinococcus eggs can not be readily differentiated from the more common tapeworms which do not affect people. Veterinarians finding tapeworm eggs on fecal exams usually closely examine pets for the rice-like grains known as proglottids which are found with common tapeworms but not the lethal variety. Occasionally more dramatic methods are necessary to try to recover worms from suspect pets. A more convenient blood test is available to diagnose infection in people and hopefully similar tests will soon become suitable for pets.
      The best defense is increased public awareness of this condition. Personal protection and hygiene are important, especially to those individuals that may contact feces from potentially-infected pets. Children are particularly at risk. Mulch that contains feces from dogs, cats, wolves or foxes should not be used on gardens. Beagles should be discouraged from consuming rabbits or any other type of wild rodent.

Fortunately for pets, there are medicines that are safe and very effective for treatment. People are not as lucky and surgery still remains the preferred treatment.

In conclusion, Echinococcus multilocularis, may cause a mild problem in pets but if people get infected, the results can be fatal. In order to minimize the risk of human infection the public must increase its awareness of the potential complications that are associated with the parasites.

Whipworms
Surveys consistently identify whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) as one of the most common parasitic worms of dogs in North America, while only infrequently being reported in cats or humans. They live in the lower aspects of the intestines (the cecum and colon) where they latch on to feed. Sometimes they cause no problems at all but they may cause abdominal upset (colic) or diarrhea, often tainted by blood and mucus. When eggs are laid in the intestines, they pass into the feces and become infective within 9-10 days. When consumed by dogs the infective eggs hatch in the intestines and the larvae parasitize the intestines and matures further.

Many people do not realize that dogs do not begin to shed whipworm eggs in their stool until about 3 months after being infected. At that time each female whipworm may pass from 1000 to 4000 eggs per day into the stool. Complicating matters further are that female whipworms are long-lived, surviving for months or years in the intestines. The life cycle therefore includes a larval stage in the small intestine, an adult stage in the large intestine, and infective eggs that pass into the feces.

Diagnosis is not always easy since it depends on finding whipworm eggs in the feces. Remember that animals are infected for 3 months before they begin to shed eggs and you can appreciate the problem. Once females begin shedding eggs, they are usually recoverable by direct smears and centrifugal flotation. They are not as easily found with standard fecal evaluations. In some instances, the adult worms are actually seen attached to the lower bowel during endoscopic procedures.

Treatment is also not straightforward because of the peculiar life cycle of this parasite. Although many medicines are effective in removing adult worms, the larvae are less reliably cleared. Therefore treatment must often be repeated in 3 weeks and often, in 3 months as well, when the larvae have evolved into egg-producing adults. The biggest hindrance to effective treatment is that animals are often re-exposed to environments in which whipworm eggs are plentiful, and are thereby re-infected.

It can be difficult to control exposure to whipworm eggs on lawns or soil but concrete can be effectively disinfected. Proper disposal of egg-containing dog feces is critical.

Inexpensive Treatment
The cost to effectively keep worm infestations out of your dogs may be entirely too much if you take the dog to a Veterinarian. A Vet will use a multitude of expensive dewormers. The cost for the Veterinarian treatments along with the cost of the office visits will add up to a lot of money per year. Once again, I want to remind everyone that I am not a Veterinarian, but rather a long time Beagle kennel owner. I'll tell you what I use and do, you can use your own judgment whether you want to follow in my footsteps. This article is presented only as a documentation of how I treat canine intestinal worm infestations in the Beagles that I own at a fraction of the cost that a Veterinarian will charge for the expensive worming tests and deworming treatments.

The easiest and most inexpensive, all-around, deworming treatment available is Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard). It is virtually 100% effective against all four types of canine intestinal worms. If you buy deworming medications that are made and packaged specifically for dogs, you will be paying a fortune for them. After reading this article and seeing how often you need to treat your Beagle(s) for worms, I think you may want to follow my lead.

Instead of buying and using only dog/puppy dewormers, I use the Safe-Guard 10% suspension horse/cattle dewormer. I use this for all Beagles that are at least 2 weeks old. This liquid dewormer comes in a 1000 ml bottle and contains 100 mg per ml of the active ingredient which is Fenbendazole. This is much cheaper to buy on a yearly basis than any other deworming product. You can purchase this huge bottle for only $104.95 (accurate price as of 04/20/2008) from Lambert Vet Supply by simply clicking on the photo to the left of this paragraph. It is about 100 times cheaper than any other dog/puppy dewormers made. Also, please note that several of the commercial dog/puppy dewormers are only effective against two or three of the different types of canine intestinal worms; therefore, you would be forced to buy two or three different kinds of dewormers, yet the Safe-Guard 10% suspension horse/cattle dewormer is effective against all four types. (NOTE: Lambert Vet Supply is not a sponsor of BEAGLES UNLIMITED and we do not make a cent by referring them to you. They do have the absolute lowest prices available to help all of us keep our Beagles in great health while we save hundreds of dollars each and every year. Just think about it, no need to buy the very expensive, canine dewormers to proactively keep worms out of all your Beagles.

The recommended dosage of this exact product and strength is 1 ml (which contains 100 mg active ingredient) per 5 lbs of Beagle bodyweight. For example, a 25 lb Beagle would receive 5 ml per day for a 3 day period (total 3-day treatment consists of 15 ml). With a 1000 ml bottle you have enough dewormer to treat a kennel full of Beagles on a bi-monthly treatment program for a very long time. For example, this one bottle of dewormer will treat sixty-six (66) Beagles ( avg. 25lb dogs) for a full three-day treatment. As long as all pups are eating and equally active, I deworm each litter at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Adult dogs are proactively treated for worms on the fifteenth of every other month. Fenbendazole is always administered for 3-consecutive days rather than only one day, to be sure your puppies and dogs are 100% worm-free. The reason I deworm on the 15th of every other month is because I do a heartworm preventative treatment on the 1st of every month. This way the two medicines are not given at the same time.

Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard or Panacur) is one of the safest dewormers on the market. Fasting is not required and it is safe during pregnancy and lactation. This is a list of the attributes of the Benzimidazole (BZD) type dewormers such as Fenbendazole:

If you have a kennel of dogs, then buying the Safe-Guard 10% suspension horse/cattle dewormer will definitely save you a lot of money each year. This deworming treatment will stay effective for up to three (3) years if kept refrigerated once opened. Don't wait until you see worms in your dog's feces before treating them, but rather be proactive in deworming your dogs. You should deworm bitches before breeding, during the last week of pregnancy, and each time you deworm your pups. Treat pups with the appropriate dewormers described above at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Also, treat all of your Beagles every other month. An example of a recommended deworming program is as follows: December 15th - 17th, February 15th - 17th, April 15th - 17th, June 15th - 17th, August 15th - 17th, and October 15th - 17th. Once again, the reason I deworm on the 15th through the 17th of every other month is because I treat the dogs with Ivomec as a heartworm preventative on the 1st of every month. Also, don't forget that this deworming treatment with Fenbendazole every other month has the added benefit of ridding and preventing giardiasis in all of your hounds.

If you follow this deworming treatment schedule you will see a significant improvement in your dog's appearance because you will be ridding your hound(s) of intestinal worms before any damage is done. Remember, always keep your kennel(s) disinfected and your backyard clean of feces. Dispose of your dog's feces as often as possible -- preferably daily. You will be happy because your hound(s) body and your family's living environment will be worm-free.

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