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.

 

[Dori & Rua]

There is a fine line between a glass of wine and too much wine!  I'll help you Jane and have a glass for you.  Funny story...about 3 years ago I had to work late on a Friday night. So, I got home AFTER DH.  I opened the door from the garage to the house and almost passed out.  Apparently my DH can home to the aftermath of explosure diarrhea from a dog we used to have.  It was ALL over her, the crate and the WALL the crate was against.  He tried to drag the crate, with her in it outside, but it wouldn't fit through the bedroom door.  So he opened the door and herded her THROUGH THE HOUSE ON THE CARPET outside. 

 

He is NOT a poo guy.  He did pull the tray out of the crate and had hosed it down.  He let our dog go next door (still covered in poo) to play.  I borrowed the neighbors kiddie pool and put her in the pool and gave her a bath...fortunately it was summer and really warm out.

 

Yup, it was Giardia!  I actually think I got a mild case of it because shortly after I started having "issues"!  I was never told to clean or bleach or wear gloves, though, which is probably while I got a bit ill.  They put her on something and she was good in no time.

 

So, Jane, all of those things are not the end of the world.  You'll do a good job of taking care of your sick little boy.  No different than if he were your child.  You do what you have to do.

[NewfoundlandNic]

Hi, I think you are an AMAZING dog owner and person for giving Stuart a forever home with a loving mommy. Hang in there. Enjoy the wine but don't forget the wipes ;-)

[cheryl & oliver]

You are a wonderful Doodle Mom, and like it has been said by everyone before me, you will do just fine, you know what you have to do and I am sure you will do it just fine.  If I were a betting person, (and I am, lol) Stuart will be a roly poly healthy doodle in a little while, and you and Rooney and Stuart and Dh will be a normal two doodle family...You will soon be telling us all the stories about this little guy and his adventures with Rooney..One day at a time Jane and this too will pass...Hugs to you and Stuart, and of course Rooney!!!...P.S. A glass of wine sounds like a good idea!!...Go for it.....

[Anna and Achilles]

I truly believe he found you because you are right for him. So every time you get scared just think of that. It will be tough now but is will all be worth it.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Hoping Stuart feels great soon. Glad he has you for a mom.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

He is just sweet!  But my hands feel like a gator skin - I just keep washing, sanitizer, washing.  Just shoot me.  LOL

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Perhaps you can buy a box of those fine surgical gloves and wear them when you pick Stuart up or handle him.   I think it's better than ruining your skin.  PG it will only be for a very short time

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Those gloves ( surgical) are the BEST~!   All  major stores sell them in a box of 50 pairs!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Don't all puppies have worms  passed on from the mothers?   Maybe it is better that we don't know about those worms.  All of my puppies have had them.  Spud was treated 4 times until they were all gone.  Never Giardia though.  NO no no, my SON brought  home Giardia instead.   In the middle of the night, I thought I was smelling septic!  It was this toddler making messes in the house in the middle of the night.  A lot of messes.  At his age it was hard to keep his hands, bottom, and the house clean.   No one in the family caught the parasite. 

This too shall pass and your next post will be he is eating your draperies!  Oh I LOVE puppies!

Even though I've had them, YES, I still would be feeling creepy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, all puppies don't have worms that are passed on from the mothers, or anyone else. I've never had a puppy with worms when it came home. Why would the mothers have worms? Think about it; lots of people here have female dogs, and they don't have worms.  If Starlit or Gracie or Boca or Calla were capable of being bred and had a litter, those puppies wouldn't have worms, either.

It's from unsanitary conditions and too many dogs that these puppies come home with all these parasites. If one healthy female dog had a litter in your home, you wouldn't have any worms.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Neither of my present dogs had worms either.  The only one I have had with any intestinal issue was the doodle I got from a puppy mill.  She had coccidia.   I agree with you, Karen.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have purchased puppies from truly high-end show breeders, and I have had puppies from someone's pet dog who had a litter. Nobody ever had worms, cocidia, or giardia. The difference I believe is that there was one litter at a time, and the puppies came into contact with no other dogs but their mother. Not 20 or 30 or 40 dogs and puppies running around loose outdoors somewhere.

My last puppy was paper trained at her breeders'; she had never set foot outside when I took her home at 9 weeks old, and her breeder would have liked me to keep her indoors for another week, lol. I didn't. And she housebroke in a day and a half.