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.

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Let me go find my sources.  I had read this but it has been awhile.    Could be/could not be?   You know how the internet is or word of mouth. Can't believe everything told.  I'll certainly go look!   As you can see above, I also questioned the information.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

In a short look, and again this is an internet site, but one that looks reliable:

.....Even if the mother has no active worms, she may have worms that are encysted in her tissues which can still be passed along to the fetuses.  Worms can also be passed to newborns through their mother’s milk.

http://www.alldoghealth.com/intestinal-worms-in-dogs/

This also, did not say ALL mothers have the worms.  But a healthy mother, from a clean environment, may pass on worms. 

So ALL but ........can happen. I stand corrected.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nowhere does it say a healthy mother or a clean environment, though. I still maintain that a healthy single female like many of our doodles here who had a litter in the home would not pass worms to the babies. And certainly all puppies should have been wormed before going home.

Coccidia and giardia aren't worms, and we hear that all puppies get those from their mothers, too. No way.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This statement is not italicized. ---->  This also, did not say ALL mothers have the worms.  But a healthy mother, from a clean environment, may pass on worms.
That was my interpretation or conclusion as a whole, collectively, from this source and  from other statements I have received in the past, one from a breeder, another from a rescue, one of which was from a Medical Technologist  in Microbiology,  however, again hearsay.   As noted, I said one source.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I guess we could debate this all day, but it isn't helping Jane in this particular case anyway, lol. We know this wasn't a great breeder. The rescue should have done a better job of checking and treating for parasites, though, IMO.

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I agree.  Makes me crazy trying to access the journal sites from home anyway.  Interesting thoughts though,  but one I care not to read about or look at those pictures of, any more.  I'll  leave it up to a poop sample and a vet if I ever get another puppy.

Jane, it is going to be okay. 

Karen, thanks for the debate  :)   The correct answer would have won one of us, a variety pack  bag of worms and who needs those anyway.

 

[Sharon & Monty]

om gosh!  the best laid plans.  We are of course here for you as you bring this precious baby around.  You can do this Jane, you are the chosen one.  :)  Hang in there girl, saving a glass of wine for ya!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Well, all I can really do is sympathize as I don't really have any experience with the whole giardia thing, but you already have an expert here in Karen, and I'm sure Jane will jump in as I know she has been through this many times I believe.  I'm wondering if the vet can give you something as a precaution for Rooney?  Not positive about that, but worth asking the question or maybe Karen knows.

 

As for the weight, Sophie was our little Runt and we got her at 6 weeks (I know, too young) and she was 2.5 lbs (Lucy was 5 lbs).  I don't have an 8 week weight, but do have 7 weeks and they were 5 lbs for Sophie and 7 lbs for Lucy.  At 9 weeks they had gotten to 8.5 lbs for Sophie and 10 for Lucy.  So, just feed him good and get rid of his worms and Giardia and he will be well on his way.  I also remember they came with Coccidia and the vet quickly fixed that. 

 

I'm not surprised that he has a few problems having come from the puppy mill though.  Not sure what the incubation period is on these things put possibly they werenn't showing up yet when they were at the vet.

 

Hang in there though.  You have the best experts around right here with you and they will get you through.  As my Mom always told me, "Anything worth having is worth working for" ...... think it was in a little different context, but we all know Stuart is worth it and in a few short days (weeks) the initial pain will be forgotten!   You have a few days to get him on his way to recovery before you get back to Rooney so that's good too!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Oh Jane, you are going to be just fine. You are a great mum to Rooney and we all know Stuart is in good hands with you. Don't worry about the giardia. He will get over it, and as long as you're not touching his poop and then touching your mouth you should be fine too. Hang in there!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Jane, there is a reason that you and Stuart are together and that you drove 11 hours to go get him.  You knew he needed you and you are going to be the best mommy to little Stuart.  He came into your life for a reason and one of those reasons was so you could care for him and get him through this icky wormy time.  You are an awesome mom and you are gonna do just great with this icky stuff and then give him the best life a doodle could possible ask for ....not to mention the cutest brother he could ask for.  I am so proud of you!

[Linda and Murphy]

Jane, the giardia is not always shed and for that reason it is hard to detect if you are doing a direct microscopic analysis.

Murphy had coccidia when I got him. He was a sick little dood, but the treatment worked very fast and he was fine.

You and Stuart are going to be fine.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Jane, I am so sorry that little Stuart is ill.  I can empathize with your naivete about a rescue doodle's possible poor health.  We just got my mom a dog and he was so matted, had ticks, has kennel cough, marks, may not be housebroken.... and is such a love.  He just likes to lay beside my mom in her chair.  Perfect.. We can't even treat for worms or have any other shots until he is well and we can't neuter yet either.  He also shot out the door when my mom was saying good bye to a friend (she forgot that I had leashes at the doors to snap on him just to prevent this.... any way, she chased the dog and fell down herself....  I am so concerned about bringing the germs to my dogs that I am changing my clothes every time I have contact with him.  So far I am on my third outfit today and it is only 4:00.  I reckon I will wear one more today after going down to give him his night time meds.