Giardia & Coccidia & Round Worms - Trying to stay calm

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

So when I picked up Stuart today I knew that he was on meds for Coccidia & round worms - he is on a 10 day treatment of Albon - he has 3 more days.  And I had made a Vet appt. for him, here in Atlanta as I have to stop for 2 days in Ocala and will not get home till Friday.  I figured I was being overly cautious but oh my DOG!  Stuart pooped for me today (outside - good boy) and I took that stool in.  They also swabbed another sample from his butt.  Well he has Giardia!  He is also very under weight - his little ribs stick out when you touch him - breaks my heart.  He has gained two pounds though since his last weigh on 5/31 but at 8 weeks is only 6.5 pds.  We started him on meds for the Giardia - Metronidazole.  I'm trying to be brave but I am a total germaphobe!!!!  I feel all icky with worry about catching something.  I am worried about Rooney when I get back home on Friday.  I don't know anything about any of this stuff but I will tell you this.  I LOVE this little guy, he is mine and I WILL do whatever gross thing that I must to get him healthy.  He has a funny odor (vet said do not bath for a few days - too much stress already).  He has gone potty outside every time I put him down!  I guess I'm begging for advice and moral support because I'm so out of my element with this.   Any advice on how not to infect Rooney or myself is welcome.  Thank goodness the Giardia was caught early - his poop was soft but not runny.  Help.

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh Jane, I am so sorry your mother fell! That is really scary! There is so much for your mom to deal with. You are a wonderful daughter to be taking this on with her. Blessings.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

My daughter said to me tonight after the 50th time that I had scrubbed my hands, "would you be doing this IF you had known ahead of time?"  I love Stuart but this so freaks me out and of course I will not, can not put Rooney in harms way that I told her "heck no".  I've never had a rescue dog but I was not prepared for this.  Fleas, yea - but all this other stuff no way.  I'm not going to pretend that I am one of those people that just do this type of thing and think nothing of it.  I had no idea what I was getting into.  We will get through this, but I would not take this road again.  I feel like a bad person for saying it.  I am discouraged.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You're not a "bad person", you're honest. It would freak me out, too.

I have to tell you, this is not typical for a rescue dog; from a shelter, yes, but not from a private rescue group  whose dogs are fostered in private homes. They should not be going home with worms or parasites, or any other untreated disease. For that matter, JD came from a shelter, although it was a private no-kill facility, and he came home fully vetted: neutered, chipped, UTD on all vaccines and preventatives, and had no parasites of any kind. He did desperately need a bath.

[NewfoundlandNic]

If you are a bad person, I am evil. When we got little Georgia in April I thought I had considered it all - and I had as much as one can. But the reality of a dog who was challenging to housetrain (read: not as swift as my Lab x who learned in about ten days) along with an eleven month old baby and toddler had me cursing each time I cleaned out the crate, sanitized the crate and scrubbed a poop covered puppy at 3 a.m. I was so close to feeling like I had to pack it in, so I think I get where you are coming from. It is hard, it is not easy, and it is not fun. It does, however, get better. They do, despite it all, give us unconditional love. They will get beyond this with your patience, love and care. It is ok and totally normal for you to feel what you do. Just because you know that rationally doesn't make the stress you are feeling go away.

 

Hang in there. Go easy on yourself too.

[Bonnie and Kona]

It is possible that you are making this harder than it needs to be. I know that they sell disposable gloves at every drug store. If you use the gloves when you pick up his poop and wipe his little tushy, you can turn them inside out as you remove them and dispose. As you travel you could take ziploc bags to put the "deposits" in until you reach a receptacle. You can keep Rooney safe for the incubation period by having one use the front yard and one the back until there is no danger. Actually, fleas could have been a far worse situation if you read about other's experiences where they had to discard their belongings.

I want to encourage you that this is so temporary that you are going to laugh about it in a month from now. It will be just one more of the harrowing puppy stories we all have.

I remember when my daughter contracted pin worms as a 4 year old and I had the heebie jeebies about it. It freaked me out and I washed everything in the house in hot water. She kept reinfecting because she sucked her thumb. Talk about gross! We lived through it and you will be okay too. I'm sorry it is so hard right now. We never know what we are getting ourselves into when we take on another living creature. Each one is unique. I hope Stuart recovers his health quickly and that you are able to rest knowing it will end soon.

The first day has so many surprises and challenges.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

But just now - playing with the little guy..   I love him to bits so - it might be hard but we'll get through.

[Bonnie and Kona]

You may yoyo for a few months with this guy. It will be hard but it will be worth it. hugs and kisses from the doodles and me.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

OMG - Dori - Stuart just did the humpty dumpty dance.  All 6 lbs of him!  I'm laughing so hard, Rooney's never done that and Stuart at 8 weeks has got it going on.  Too darn funny!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well there, he is obviously precocious and soon will be balancing your checkbook.

[Susan and Sasha]

Hi Jane...

So much Great advice here...and I don't have any experience with either of these..so I can't help in the advice department.

What I can do is give you lots of prayers and suppport...and will continue to do so!

I admire you and the wonderful thing you're doing in rescuing Stewart.

I know you love the little guy...and he is so blessed to be a member of your family,,,and you will be forever changed for the better to have him in your life.

 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Jane,so sorry poor little Stuart is sick. You're doing the right things so just hang in there, things will get better and the payoff will be tremendous.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Congratulations!
He is sooooo cute! You are getting a lot of wonderful advice from DK! I can only add that there are a lot of
mild scented dog fragrances for in-between grooming that might help with any unpleasant odor Stuart has. Or perhaps even a puppy wipe would help. There is even a dry bath product, though I have honestly never tried it.
When we got one of our dogs, she had a bad ear infection which was giving off a foul odor and we didn't realize if was from her ears for several days. That might be something to check out, or perhaps even some dirt might be stuck in between the pads of his paws.

We are so happy for you and Rooney. Stuart is going to be the happiest little puppy in town!