Health

DO NOT EXPOSE YOUR NEW PUPPY TO ILLNESS!

Although your puppy has received his initial series of vaccinations and wormings, this does not mean your puppy is safe from illness. Puppies are susceptible to a variety of illnesses due to their age and the stress of going to his new home. Your puppy has not completed his vaccinations and is very susceptible to exposure to serious viruses such as Parvo and Distemper, as well as parasites such as hookworm and whipworm. Do NOT bring your new puppy to any public areas including grooming shops, parks, public sidewalks, or anywhere that other dogs may go. Do NOT allow your puppy to sniff other dog’s feces or walk him in areas where other dogs have been. Do NOT introduce him to any other dogs. Do NOT allow anyone that has been around other dogs to interact with your puppy as they can carry viruses on their shoes and clothing into your home. If you or your children have been around other dogs while out in public, you should immediately change your clothes and wash your hands and other body parts that have come into contact with other animals before you get close to your own puppy. Once your puppy has completed his vaccinations (typically between 16-18 weeks of age) your vet will let you know when it is safe to bring your puppy to public areas without risking exposure.

Giardia

Giardia is a common intestinal infection caused by a protozoan parasite and is found in all animals. Giardia is spread by direct contact by the dog eating or sniffing Giardia cysts from contaminated soil where infected dogs have been, or by drinking contaminated water such as a stream, pond, or puddle. These cysts can be found in the stool of seemingly health adult dogs, thus transmitting the parasite to other dogs unsuspectingly. The protozoan parasitic cysts attach themselves to the intestinal wall of the dog to develop, reproduce, and eventually pass more cysts out through the stool, to contaminate the soil and water via feces, and to infect more dogs, thus it is a vicious cycle. Very common in dogs and prevalent in young puppies, this common intestinal infection is found throughout the United States and around the world.

Symptoms

The majority of dogs infected with Giardia may be asymptomatic, meaning they will not exhibit any symptoms at all, therefore infecting other dogs without any outward signs of being infected themselves. If symptoms do present themselves which is more common in puppies, it typically consists of diarrhea that can have a pungent odor, sometimes with blood or mucus present, and may include vomiting, weight loss and lethargy. Incubation period for Giardia is typically three to ten days.

Prevention

Good hygiene is important in the prevention of Giardia. All feces should be promptly removed using gloves and plastic bags for disposal. Limit your dog’s exposure to public areas and where other dog’s feces are present. Provide your dog access to only clean water sources and do not allow him to play in or drink from potentially contaminated water sources. Contact with other dogs or areas where other dogs have defecated is a common way to transmission to occur. All surfaces and areas that your dog comes into contact with should be properly sanitized and free from feces whenever possible to prevent the spread or reinfection of Giardia.

Treatment

Treatment consists of an appointment for a vet visit. There they will perform a routine fecal analysis which may confirm the presence of the parasite. The vet may then prescribe a common medication such as Metronidazole to combat the infection. Learn More Information About Giardia

Coccidia

Coccidia is a parasitic protozoa that live in the intestinal tracts of all mammals, some birds, some reptiles, and some amphibians and most species of the parasite are species specific. Published surveys indicate that coccidia is present in up to 38% of dogs and 36% of cats in North America. Although hygiene plays a role in infestation, because the organisms are extremely common, infestations can occur in very clean environments. Coccidia can survive in the ground for a long time in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Age seems to be a primary risk factor, with coccidia most commonly occurring in young puppies and kittens. Your dog can become infected by ingesting the spores of the parasite through contact with contaminated soil, feces or direct contact with an infected animal. The most common coccidia found in dogs does not have any affect on humans.

Symptoms

Rarely causing symptoms in adult dogs which can have the parasite and be asymptomatic, puppies and kittens typically have diarrhea, sometimes with blood and odor accompanying the loose stool.

Prevention

Good hygiene and proper and prompt disposal of feces along with keeping your puppy away from public areas where other dogs and animals such as cats or wildlife congregate or defecate to reduce the possibility of infection can help prevent infection.

Treatment

A veterinarian can perform a fecal analysis of your puppy’s stool to check for the parasite and a medication such as Albon is typically used to treat. Medication is given orally and in many cases puppies may require more than one treatment cycle to eliminate the parasite. Diarrhea should resolve within a few days of starting treatment. It is important to observe good hygiene by cleaning up feces frequently using gloves to prevent recontamination during treatment. During symptoms and treatment with medication, it is important to monitor and ensure that your puppy is eating and drinking adequately to maintain hydration which may be compromised if diarrhea is present. Rest and fluids are important for a quick resolution to this common parasite.

Hypoglycemia

What is it?

The medical term for low blood sugar, this is not a disease, but a serious drop in a puppy’s glucose (sugar) level and is completely preventable. If you recognize the signs early, it is easy to treat and reverse.

Why does it happen?

Hypoglycemia can occur quickly when a new puppy is not fed properly, is not eating well, is under the stress of a new environment, too much excitement, too much exercise, or too much handling. Toy breeds and puppies under three months of age are especially susceptible to hypoglycemia due to their size as well as the fact that they have not fully developed their ability to regulate their own blood glucose levels which is then stressed when put into a new environment, overly stimulated, or not eating well. Too much play, carrying the puppy excessively, taking him for car rides, or introducing him to too many people or pets the first couple weeks upon arriving to your home can be overwhelming for a new puppy. Due to a lack of nutrients, exhaustion, stress, or depression, hypoglycemia can occur within minutes.

Symptoms of the condition

Symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, trembling, lack of coordination, weakness, tiredness, and pale gums. In extreme cases and without proper treatment, unconsciousness and death can occur.

Prevention

Do-provide the puppy with a safe, quiet place to sleep and rest such as a crate,
Do- keep the puppy warm,
Do-provide the puppy with small, frequent meals, and monitor to make sure they actually eat,
Do-provide access to fresh water and monitor to make sure they drink,
Do- provide supplements such as Nutrical, Nutristat, (see our nutrition page for details)
Do- provide Karo Light Syrup, (see our nutrition page for details)
Do- provide plenty of quiet time for the puppy to sleep, relax, and recharge,
Do- keep stress to a minimum.

Don’t- take the puppy for casual car rides the first two weeks of arrival,
Don’t-allow children to continuously play, hold, or carry the puppy around,
Don’t-allow the puppy free access in your home,
Don’t-overly stimulate the puppy with excessive playing,
Don’t-excessively handle or hold the puppy,
Don’t-introduce the puppy to other pets immediately,
Don’t-allow the puppy to become overheated,
Don’t-allow the puppy to become dehydrated,
Don’t- give the puppy treats or snacks which could upset his sensitive tummy and cause diarrhea.

Treatment

If recognized early, low blood sugar is easy to treat and reverse. It is extremely important to treat hypoglycemia immediately by providing a source of sugar to elevate the puppy’s glucose level. The puppy should respond very quickly to treatment, usually within five or ten minutes. The first thing to do is to get some glucose into the puppy by giving the puppy either Nutristat, Nutrical, or Karo Light syrup. If the puppy is able, allow him to lick this off of a spoon or your finger, as much as he will take. If he refuses to take it, you can rub some onto his tongue or gums so it can quickly absorb into his system or he can lick it. Do not put too much on his tongue so as to cause choking. He should be wrapped in a blanket or towel to keep him warm. You should contact your veterinarian who will examine the puppy and may give fluids and run blood work.

Kennel Cough

What is it?

Kennel cough is a common, contagious, and typically self-limiting respiratory disease that is typified by inflammation of the bronchi and trachea. Kennel cough can be either viral or bacterial in nature and is caused by many different types of viruses/bacteria found in public spaces where other dogs congregate. Dogs catch kennel cough by inhaling bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory tract. Similar to a cold in humans, Kennel Cough is spread through airborne droplets, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces. It is easily contracted through exposure at boarding kennels, doggie day care, canine sports events, veterinarian offices, any public spaces where dogs visit such as parks, or pretty much anywhere your dog comes in direct or indirect contact with other dogs. Like a human cold, it is highly treatable, but is difficult to prevent.

Symptoms of the condition

Symptoms typically begin to develop two to six days following exposure and include a hacking or honking cough that almost sounds like the dog is choking, and which may be accompanied by a nasal or ocular discharge. It may also include a fever and loss of appetite. The coughing can be prompted by excitement, play, drinking or eating, or by applying pressure to the throat. Symptoms can last from only a few days to several weeks.

Prevention

All dogs are susceptible to kennel cough. While there is a vaccination available for the bordetella virus which is the most common strain of kennel cough, since there are other strains that are not be covered by the vaccination, the vaccine may not prevent your dog from contracting the disease. The best way to limit (but not eliminate) your dog’s exposure, is to limit him from public areas where other dogs congregate as much as possible.

Treatment

Treatment should include a veterinarian visit so that the doctor examination can determine if a cough suppressant and antibiotics are necessary as they are not appropriate in every case. Walking the dog using a neck collar should be avoided during symptoms as this can put more pressure on the trachea thus eliciting the cough and further inflaming his trachea. A vaporizer or putting the dog in the bathroom while running a steam shower to help unclog the nose and open breathing passages is also useful. There are also some natural remedies that can be utilized to help the dog ease through the symptoms. Treating for kennel cough does not mean the dog will never contract the disease again. As with the human cold, anytime the dog is near other dogs and dog areas, he is at risk of catching the disease.

Diarrhea

Common causes of diarrhea in puppies: change of water or too much water, change of diet or eating something that doesn’t agree with the pup’s digestive system, too much excitement/stress/change of environment, parasites, other illness.

If your dog gets diarrhea, it is important to try to remove the cause (if known) and treat the diarrhea quickly to alleviate further issues. Below is a guideline for treating simple diarrhea. Always remember to contact your veterinarian with any questions or concerns regarding your pets health!

1. Make sure the dog has access to plenty of clean water to avoid dehydration. Encourage the dog to drink. If needed, offer dilute chicken, beef broth or Pedialyte in addition to the water.
2. Try offering the dog a small meal of boiled white meat chicken (no bones or skin) with cooked white rice. This can be the dog's diet until the stool consistency returns to normal.
3. Try offering the dog some pure pumpkin puree (not canned pie filling) mixed in with some dog food until the stool consistency returns to normal.
4. If the diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours or your dog’s condition worsens at any time, call your vet immediately.

Vomiting

Common causes of vomiting in dogs: change of water or too much water, change of diet or eating something that doesn’t agree with the dogs digestive system, too much excitement/stress/change of environment, parasites, other illness.

1. Remove all food for six hours.
2. To avoid dehydration, offer the dog small amounts of water frequently throughout the day. If needed, you can also offer some dilute chicken or beef broth or Pedialyte in addition to water.
3. When the dog has not vomited for at least six hours, offer a small amount of boiled white meat chicken (no bones or skin) and white rice.
4. Wait two hours. If the dog has not vomited then offer another small meal of cooked chicken and rice.
5. Continue this treatment, gradually increasing the amount of food offered at each meal and lengthening the time between meals until you feel the dog is feeling better.
6. If multiple vomiting episodes continue for more than six hours or your dog’s condition worsens at any time, call your vet immediately.