Sick puppy: Coccidia

[mom2b]

I would take her back to the breeder/vet tomorrow and give the lady a chance to make things right. It wouldn't bode well for her as a vet or a breeder not to do right by you. You have a contract, and obviously any other vet would tell you to take the puppy back...
While I'm not sure why she would send any puppy home when sick, perhaps Kali hadn't had the runs yet at her house. Regardless the puppy now has meds starting her on the way to wellness. Her msg sounded like she was willing to work it out. Just my 5 cents worth...

Like I said in another post, I remember one of the puppies having diarrhea on a day I visited but I did not pay attention to it then and she told me "they have diarrhrea from this bacteria in my backyard", i also have text messages from her saying it was from it.

Like you said thankfully she now has a treatment to get better but some people are not understanding my point here: It is not about the money. I let it go and told her i keep her posted on any improvements, i honestly don't want to make this bigger than it is but it still bothers me a bit.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Spitfire had that and it is common. Sounds like a more severe case but still. Also adult have it with no ill effect I have been told.

 

[Lunatic59]

She told me when I picked her up that she had diarrhea and that was what the Albon was for. I also remember a couple weeks ago when I visited and saw one of the puppies with it but I didn't know then about the bacteria in the backyard.

It is also a very distinctive form of diarrhea; it's not only liquid, it's also very foamy, yellow and has mucus on it (sorry for the tmi, lol). Coccidia might not be parvo but diarrhea is a common symptom that can be lethal if not properly treated. It also takes well over two weeks for it to get to this point so there is no way she didn't know.

I have had the puppy for just 3 days and notified her since the moment I saw the situation and have been dutifully following instructions. I am very well aware of having to be prepared for unexpected expenses but this was an illness acquired with her. I paid my bill and have the treatment but it doesn't change the fact that I was given a sick puppy (however common and easy to transmit the bacteria is) and I paid for the breeder's carelessness.

The "bacteria in the back yard" comes from her animals and is picked up by the puppies having contact with infected feces. Most likely all her animals are infected and the adults may not show symptoms as their immune system can deal with the bacteria, but as corbinam stated coccidia is common in puppies. My two boys came from the breeder with coccidia including diarrhea. It was easily treated and clear up promptly. One thing I did do was to include a teaspoon of plain yogurt in their kibble. The bacterial cultures seemed to help settle their digestion. Actually, I still do it and they haven't had a loose bowel movement in months.

What bothers me more is the treatment and cost. I was given a generic Sulfadimethoxine for BOTH my pups for around $14. I would definitely find a different vet asap.

 

[Ann]

It's true, coccidia is very common among puppies and litters can pick it up from their dams, which is why breeders I know religiously worm both mother and puppies before they leave the litter. Sometimes, it's tough to cure and puppies will still go home with it.

Breeders I know also assume responsibility for puppies who are sick or become sick shortly after going home with their owners.

My Pixie came home years ago with a severe case of coccidia at 9 weeks old also. At the time, I didn't know then what I know now, and the breeder lived several hours away from us. She was treated by my vet, and it was not an easy cure. She was a very sick puppy for months. It cost upwards of $1,000 in visits and medications and left her with colitis that required special dietary needs and vigilance and took several years until her system was normal.

Albon may not be the correct medication to cure Kali, and I would most definitely take her to another vet for a second opinion. Pixie had to be treated with metronidazole, also known as flagyl, off and on for months. While coccidia is common, if it's not treated correctly it can make a puppy quite sick. If you aren't seeing improvement on the Albon I would be asking a vet for other recommendations.

And yes, you are absolutely correct that since the puppy came to you sick and was sick when she left the breeder, you should be reimbursed for any expenses to treat the illness. That's how responsible breeders handle these situations.

I hope you're able to resolve this, and most importantly get Kali cured. Please don't wait...if the diarrhea is worse, it's not going to go away on its own. Please keep us posted.

 

[tentcamp]

My puppy also had it when I purchased him, he showed no symptoms but it was discovered when I took him for his well puppy exam the day after I got him. I notified the breeder because I figured if he had it the others may also. The breeder was very sorry, she did not know and they had already had two fecal tests showing nothing. She offered to pay for the treatment for him and the other puppy that had also already gone home. I turned her down because part of the reason I purchased from her was that she does such a fantastic job of socializing them right from the start. I had many pictures of them playing with all sorts of things outside, I appreciated it that he was so exposed to so much. He could have just as easily gotten it from my yard so I didn't feel it was a reflection of bad care on her part. It is common, the vet wasn't concerned and it cleared easily and quickly. Now had she sent him home with symptoms I likely would have been upset, I'm sorry your breeder/vet didn't keep your puppy till she was heathy but maybe she didn't want to disappoint you by keeping her longer.

 

[Mom2Melli]

I was going to say that I would ask for help with the $97 med. since the vet offered something. I paid $25 US 3 years ago from a VERY expensive vet. I would just play it off as needing help having just had the expense of the pup knowing you have shots and fecal and MDR1 testing etc. etc. ahead of you.

Then, I would just quietly wander away and work with another vet. Again, it does no good to make a war, though I totally agree you should be angry the pup was not treated before coming and that she would charge you a lot for the med.

Out of my SIX dogs, every one of them has needed cleaning up in some way. Worms and protozoa, ear foxtails, ear infections, horrifying tick infestation, even one with overgrown neuter stitches, kennel cough, minor respiratory infections. It shouldn't be that way, but it always is. I wouldn't call her a "sick puppy" but a parasite-riddled one.

I am by no means blowing it off and saying "get over it". I am saying be mad as heck, but just choose your battles wisely and above all make sure the little tyke gets cleaned up and healthy and on the road to a good life. I know the costs are steep. I am feeling it too with Cubby. The year I lost my two boys and got my Shay I had $5000 out to my vet. We sold a radio controlled jet to get out from under it.

Again, I commiserate and shake my head in an angry way with you, but I am also shrugging shoulders because it's just so common.

 

[bkzoo]

I can speak from experience that exactly one week after bringing little 8-week old Baker home , and 5 days after his vet exam & poop exam, he developed severe runny stools & I was scared out of my mind. The breeder had done 3 wormings before we got him, but I have since learned that coccidia can lay dormant and not flare up until stress: car ride, new home, vet visit, new visitors.

I agree that it is probably best to find a new vet. In my opinion, having complete trust in my dog's vets is more important than the $ amount.

 

[mom2b]

I was going to say that I would ask for help with the $97 med. since the vet offered something. I paid $25 US 3 years ago from a VERY expensive vet. I would just play it off as needing help having just had the expense of the pup knowing you have shots and fecal and MDR1 testing etc. etc. ahead of you.

Then, I would just quietly wander away and work with another vet. Again, it does no good to make a war, though I totally agree you should be angry the pup was not treated before coming and that she would charge you a lot for the med.

Out of my SIX dogs, every one of them has needed cleaning up in some way. Worms and protozoa, ear foxtails, ear infections, horrifying tick infestation, even one with overgrown neuter stitches, kennel cough, minor respiratory infections. It shouldn't be that way, but it always is. I wouldn't call her a "sick puppy" but a parasite-riddled one.

I am by no means blowing it off and saying "get over it". I am saying be mad as heck, but just choose your battles wisely and above all make sure the little tyke gets cleaned up and healthy and on the road to a good life. I know the costs are steep. I am feeling it too with Cubby. The year I lost my two boys and got my Shay I had $5000 out to my vet. We sold a radio controlled jet to get out from under it.

Again, I commiserate and shake my head in an angry way with you, but I am also shrugging shoulders because it's just so common.

yeah i agree with you. I do know that "poop" will happen and it won't be the worse or most expensive thing. but like I said, it is not about the money i am mad about, it's about breeder just shrugging off something she is responsible for.

I told her not to worry, I did not need help paying for it it was just unexpected and that I would keep her posted on any improvements made. I love my little girl and I am still very grateful that she believed in me being a good home for one of her puppies (tried to adopt from a rescue and they all rejected me since I live in an apartment). Other than this issue she is a good breeder: she competes in agility, obedience, conformation, etc... it tells me she cares about the breed.

I won't let this bother me, what's done is done and I don't want any drama happening over diarrhea. Like Mom2melli suggested, I will eventually just walk away to another vet. Meanwhile I will just pray for her to get better, that's all that really matters to me.

 

[Cooper'sMama]

I feel you're pain. Jade had loose stool when I got her, and I thought that it was stress, so I gave it a few days to see of it would go away.

NOPE... We did a fecal and it was neg. she had been dewormer 3 times by the breeder, but we checked just in case.

Giardia teSt- POSITIVE!

My poor baby had fluids and 10 days of meds. And that cleared it up.

I do pray that you're sweet baby gets well soon!!

 

[Mom2Melli]

Yay for Giardia! My poor Shay had both coccidia and giardia (and round worms, hook worms, tape worms, and pin worms). It was a nightmare. I had to treat BOTH my dogs for everything it was so bad. AND because Shay was a face licker at the time -- WE had to take a round of Flagyl in case we picked up either of those nasties ourselves. Nightmare.

I agree Kali's breeder knew, sent her home, admitted it, backpedaled a bit, and then charged you A LOT. Majorly NOT cool. My breeder gave shots at the worst possible timing mathmatically and didn't worm at all. A SEVEN inch roundworm. It looked like an earthworm! I am still reeling from seeing that. I thought about emailing ad pointing out a couple things and just decided it wasn't worth it.

Keep your baby hydrated and work with a vet on Albion and/or Flagyl.