First Two Weeks Home

[Tiffany Crawley]

Hi! I'm new to Doodle Kisses and the Puppy Madness group.  

Sorry for the long post in advance but I have a lot to say :)

My F1b mini goldendoodle, Zara, came home a little over 2 weeks ago (at 7 weeks 5 days old)... and boy has it been rough.  She's great puppy and was pad trained within 3 days, her temperament is great and I love her more than anything but here's what happened...

My fiancé and I drive from Chicago to Jasper, IN to get her from a well known goldendoodle breeder.  On our 5.5 hour drive home Zara had diarrhea 4 times, and then when we finally got home at 11pm that night she had diarrhea 5 more times. It was basically every half hour and completely water and mucus coming out.  At this point I was EXTREMELY concerned and scared that she was dehydrated and in bad condition.  I thought maybe it was a combination or stress and nerves from her being car sick after the long ride, the fear of a new environment, and also she was dewormed that day at the breeder before we took her home.  In the back of my mind I knew there could definitely be something more serious wrong also. She was not eating or drinking water either.

I called the vet first thing the next morning and she said to collect a stool sample and bring her in.  We went to the vet and she has a puppy examination done.  She checked lungs, heart beat, temperature, ears, teeth, just the normal general puppy exam.  Zara had a yeast infection in her left ear and after her stool sample came back from the lab it turns out she has Giardia.  We got medication for both and she started improving the next day.  I did contact the breeder to let her know Zara had Giardia as the vet recommended to and the breeder basically said she was sorry to hear that and it happens.

A week later it's time for her to have her second round of vaccinations.  I took her in and the vet visit went well.  I did mention to the vet that she had been taking more frequent pees and has a few accidents that day which is unlike her.  (I've taken two weeks off work with her so I noticed right when something was outside the norm, and she was pad trained after about 3 days). She said to collect a urine sample and bring it to her in the next day or two. I was able to get a small amount of urine in a container from her and sure enough the vet called and said she has a UTI. She is now on an antibiotic for it.  

It just seems like it's one thing after another.  I'm so sad my poor girl has been through so much already and she's only 10 weeks old.  Also she came home at 2 pounds 11 oz and is now about 5 pounds two weeks later.  This leads me to believe she was not eating at the breeder also.  She is a litter of 13 and the breeder has multiple litters at once so I know she could not be getting much 1:1 attention there.  

Zara plays and it eating her new kibble we switched her to (ZiwiPeak) and her sweet personality is shining now.  I just feel terrible for what she's been through.  I read 3 books in preparation for her, waited and search 4 months to find her and was not expecting all of this to happen.  We love Zara so much!

I guess I'm just looking for some support and reassurance. It's all been so frustrating and upsetting. When I asked the vet if this is abnormal she says puppies has low immune systems and it does happen that she's not overly concerned yet.  

Thanks in advance for any replies. I hope i'm posting this correctly.

[LORRY SWETLAND]

I have a goldendoodle . He is now 1 yr old and weighs 77.6 pounds and stands 28 1/2 in to the shoulder. His name is TURBO. He is one ball of energy and thank goodness I have an acre of land for him to release all that energy. I got him at 3 months old and 30 pounds and he came from MO. by van to northeast PA. He was traveling with 2 techs and he got to me in perfect health. I would never take a puppy before 12 weeks old. I know breeders want to get them into homes quickly but I don't think that is what is best for the pup. Turbo had 3 pee pee accidents in the house in the 1st week and never went in the house again. He slept all night in my room on the floor cause he got too hot in my bed. He is always at my feet no matter what room I am in. He did get car sick for several trips in the car but I figured it was all the winding bumpy roads so I keep the back windows open (not enough for him to put his head out) and he stopped getting car sick. In the winter the windows are open and the heat blowing on me....lol. I'm sorry your pup got so sick!!!! Did you get a health certificate from a vet before the breeder let her go? My breeder took TURBO to the vet just before he was transported to me. He also had all his  shorts and wormed before he came to me. I must say after all I have read on here about puppies that people got that were sick I really lucked out with my breeder. Good Luck with your pup Hopefully she will not have anymore problems

[Tiffany Crawley]

Hi Lorry - Thanks for the reply! Yes, I know now that coming home before 12 weeks is a red flag.  I'm just glad that Zara is getting the medical attention she needs to be healthy, which will hopefully be soon. :)

I do have a health guarantee for 3 years but Giardia is excluded in the contract.  Its mostly for genetic defects and doesn't include the issues she's had so far.  It's so sad to hear all the sick puppies that come home.   I never knew this happened so often until I started searching online after I experienced it myself.  

It's good to hear Turbo did so well coming home.  He sounds like the perfect pup!

[LORRY SWETLAND]

He is quit the pup. Thank goodness he exercises himself 3 to 4 times a day running and warp speed and I don't have to walk him. He was trained (by me) to go without a leash. He follows me all over. I use my tractor for summer chores and winter plowing. He stays right by the tractor and he watches which way I am driving or backing up. He is of the temperament to stay by my side  except for his running on the property. He does walk on a leash when I go into stores that permit dogs to come in so he does get socialized. He has play dates with an Irish wolfhound doodle who is 114 pounds. They run and play and stand up against each other and wrestle to the ground. He loves other dogs. Doodles are very smart and learn quickly if your are consistent with the training. I go through all TURBO"S commands several times a day. His only bad behavior is jumping on my neighbor when he comes to visit. But I am working on the no jump command. He is very big and powerful and still a puppy so he is still lacking self control. Because he is so big and powerful I do at times use an e-collar which is a very good training aid if used properly. The one I got will vibrate- buzz- or shock and it goes from 1 to 100 in strength.  A lot of people don't approve of it but I have used it on all the dogs I have had and like I said used properly they are very good. At one time I had 2 chihuhua's and 1 jack russel and a puggle. They all passed away from old age. My puggle THUNDER passed away last March he was 10 yrs old and suddenly died of congestive heart. Chiweenie the Chihuahua was 16 yrs and I had to put her down in Sept.  I got TURBO last March 2 weeks after THUNDER passed away. The pic of TURBO on my page was taken on his 1st birthday Jan 6th. He is the love of my life. I am retired and going on 69 yrs old. So TURBO has to be under control or he could break something on me...lol. Hope she gets better real soon. 

[Caslynn74]

Awe that is a rough start.  We actually are 7 months old, and still fighting recurrent UTI's.  But my Beatrice has a recessed vulva which is part of it.  We now give her a medicated douche every other day and it seems to be enough to keep it a bay.  Even once you finish your meds make sure you recheck her urine.

Its been a bit rough bc of the UTI's here as well, shes had 6 in the last 5 months since shes been home.  So I know exactly how you feel.  But she is also the best girl ever and we just love her so much, and she's so worth all the trouble.

Good luck!!!!

[Tiffany Crawley]

I'm glad someone can relate.  How wonderful you've found a solution to keep them a bay.  I'll be sure to have her urine rechecked once we are done with the antibiotic.  Good Luck to you as well! 

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Do you have her on a probiotic?!

[Tiffany Crawley]

Yes I do, Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora.  The vet gave it to us at her first appointment.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

First, I'd order Proviable DC probiotics. FortiFlora (made by Purina) contains some really nasty "flavoring" ingredients and is not recommended. Order enough Proviable for at least a month. In the meantime, give him a couple of tablespoons of plain nonfat unflavored yogurt twice a day.
It's important to understand that there is no nutrition curriculum in vet school, and what little vets do learn about pet food comes directly from the sales people at Hill's and Purina.
You can buy Proviable on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Proviable-DC-Cats-Dogs-Capsules/dp/B001O3UE9...

Proviable has recently come out with an even better option but I don't believe it is a available on a Amazon yet.


http://www.proviable.com/Proviable-Forte.html

[Tiffany Crawley]

Thank you for the information! I will order the Proviable DC probiotic.  I gave her a little 0% Fage greek yogurt this morning and she really liked it.  I hope it helps her stomach since it is a little upset from the antibiotic she's on for the UTI. Good to know about vets and nutrition also.  Thanks again

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

You're very welcome! I hope she is doing better. Everything I have learned came from Karen in The Food Group. She is an excellent resource!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

It is normal for your puppy to gain one lb a week while they are so young. They grow very quickly in the beginning and that slows down around 6 months of age, so make sure you take plenty of pictures while she is small. It doesn't last long. You may also want to join "The Food Group" here on Doodlekisses. Karen runs that group and she is a pet nutritionist. She also owns a Doodle with health issues and therefore has done extensive research on most any problem you may have. You can post your problem in that group and she will be sure to help you.
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup