Parvo

Please note there are many common causes for a puppy to have bloody stool & Vomiting so please let your vet check over your puppy as soon as Posible.

Parvovirus or Parvo, is life threatening virus that affects dogs. It is the most common viral disease in dogs. It primarily affects puppies. The most common age for infection is between 2-6 months of age, but infection can occur at any age. All breeds are susceptible to this virus. Some breeds such as Dobermans, rottweilers and Labradors are more susceptible to Parvo than others. It is not known why this is.

Parvo is spread through the feces of dogs infected with the virus. The dog does not actually have to come in contact with another sick dog. While Parvo cannot be spread to or from, humans or other pets, the virus can be carried in to the dog's environment on someone's shoes, or by birds or other animals who have come in contact with infected feces. Parvo can survive in an environment for as long as 9 months. The only disinfectant known to kill Parvo is chlorine bleach. A 1:30 ratio of chlorine bleach in water has been known to be effective for sanitizing contaminated areas. Any area known to be contaminated should be thoroughly sanitized.

The disease usually enters the dog's system by oral ingestion. It attacks the digestive system, inhibiting them from absorbing nutrients. It also causes severe diarrhea and often vomiting, dehydration is common. It also suppresses white blood cells and may attack the heart as well.

Symptoms of Parvo include high fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting. There is no cure for Parvo. Veterinarians can help infected dogs by treating the symptoms and dehydration. Most dogs die if they do not receive veterinary attention. With veterinary attention, a dog has a reasonably good chance of survival. Early detection is important. Some vets have been trying antitoxins and antiparvo serum with some success.

In some cases, dogs can have Parvo without showing any symptoms. They will not be affected by the disease, but they are capable of spreading it and their feces will be contaminated with the virus.

. A vaccine is available for Parvo. The vaccine is usually given with several other vaccines, including distemper. Vaccination usually begins at 8 weeks of age, and repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is sixteen weeks old, and then given annually. There is some controversy as to whether vaccinating too often may actually weaken a dog's immunity to Parvo. research is currently being done in this area. Until then, your vet will help you decide what is right for your dog.

Veterinarians can run a titre to determine the strength of a particular dog's immunity to Parvo. Dogs should be tested for immunity to Parvo before being brought in to an area where a previously infected dog has been

Fairytailpuppies

  

Coccidia

Coccidia generally appears when your Chihuahua is going through a stressful period in their life.

Coccidia could appear from stress of weather changes, a puppy weaning, overcrowding, long car or plane ride, going to a new home with their new owners, unsanitary conditions, food changes, or any new situation for your Chihuahua.

Coccidia is a single cell organism that infects your Chihuahua's intestines. Coccidia can only be detected in a fecal test because the parasites are microscopic and can't be seen by the naked eye.

A Coccidia infection can cause your Chihuahua to have watery diarrhea which can also be bloody (this is in severe cases) and can be life threatening in young and small Chihuahuas.  The reason it can be life threatening, is when your Chihuahua loses fluid and causes your Chihuahua to become dehydranted.  However, Coccidia can cause mild symptoms, which can go unnoticed and disappears out of your Chihuahua.

Young puppies can be infected with Coccidia, even if you get your Chihuahua from a good breeder because the puppies can recieve it from their Mother's feces.

Symptoms

1.  Watery, thick mucus, and light colored fecal matter.

2.  Straining when trying to have a bowel movement.

3.  Rapid dehydration.

4.  Weight loss

5. Bloody diarrhea is noticed in severe cases.

Treating Coccidia doesn't cost a lot of money and is extremely effective and routine.  Your Veterinarian can diagnose coccidia through a feces sample from your Chihuahua, which should be done at the first check up after you purchase your Chihuahua because you will want to have your Veterinarian check your Chihuahua for any worms any way!

Your Veterinarian will prescribe medication that can eliminate or reduce the level that your Chihuahua's immune system can make it's own progress against the infection.  Permanent damage to the gastrointestinal system is rare and your Chihuahua will most likely make a complete recovery without long lasting negative effects.

The most common drugs used to treat Coccidia infections are Albon, Bactrovet, or Tribrissen. (These drugs shouldn't be given to dogs that are pregnant.)   Using these drugs will stop the production of coccidia organisms and will let your Chihuahua's immune system to catch up and wipe the infection out. 

 Usually a good 5 days of medication of the above drugs should be enough to help your Chihuahua's immune system to take over fighting this infection.  However, the medication should be given until the diarrhea stops.  If your Chihuahua continues to have diarrhea and you have given the above drugs for 5 days and your Chihuahua's diarrhea hasn't stopped, then I would contact your Veterinarian and have your Chihuahua checked out again!

Cockroaches and flies can carry coccidia from one place to another.  Mice and other animals can ingest the coccidia and when they are killed and eaten by a dog, can infect the dog with coccidia.  So it is important that insects and rodents are under control, to prevent Coccidia.

The coccidia species of dogs and cats don't infect humans!

Kennel Cough

Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis Or Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough is a misleading term because Kennel Cough can be contracted by dogs who never been near a kennel!  Dogs can pick up the disease in many different situations, such as dog shows, dog groomers, training classes,  at your Veterinary, contact with other dogs, taking them to your local pet store, on walks, and passing dogs in the street.  Kennel cough is an airborne virus.  Kennel cough is very contagious disease which affects the respiratory system of your Chihuahua.  It can be influenced by many environmental factors, which is usually produced by a combination of bacterial and viral agents. Your Chihuahua may not display any symptoms of kennel cough for a period of 8 to 10 days, that is the incubation period from the time your Chihuahua was exposed to kennel cough.

Kennel Cough Symptoms

A spontaneous, dry hacking cough or a honking sound, a non-productive cough, (which is easily induced) wheezing, retching, a sound that is described like something was caught in their throat, sound like they are choking, watery nose and eye discharge,  lack of appetite, not drinking as much water as they normally do, lethargic, fever, and just acting sick.

There are several different organisms that can cause different viruses and bacteria, that includes, Bordetella Bronchiseptia (airborne bacteria), Canine Parainfluenza (virus), and Mycoplasma (an organism between a virus and a bacteria).

The treatment of the disease is dependent on how severe the case of Kennel Cough is.  Treatment could be cough suppressants, antibiotics, bronchodilators, and sprays.  You should wash you Chihuahua's bedding often.  In most cases kennel cough will resolve in 10 days to 3 weeks.  Your Chihuahua should be seen by your Veterinarian, if their cough lasts longer than 2 weeks.  

Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent secondary bacterial infections, such as pneumonia.  You can also cup your hands, and pat your Chihuahua's chest and you can also use steam inhalation to help your Chihuahua's cough.

Kennel Cough can last for 4 weeks and your pet will be contagious to other dogs for up to 3 months.  So preventing kennel cough is the best thing to do!

Since there are so many different strains and mutations of the virus that is out there, the vaccine Bordatella won't cover them all!  So even though your Chihuahua may have been given a Bordatella vaccine, they still can get kennel cough!

There is no cure for kennel cough but time!

Here are some ideas for natural treatments you may use to treat your dog’s Kennel Cough symptoms. None of these will harm your dog in any way, even if s/he does not even have Kennel Cough, but you may want to check with your own vet before giving them to your dog.

For boosting the immune system and fighting off infection:

Vitamins:

• 500 mg Vitamin C 3x/day (250 mg for tiny dogs) (If you already supplement with vitamin C, great! But this is in addition to the regular daily dose, and is spaced out during the day.)

Herbal tinctures:

• Echinacea (give a few drops, 3x/day, either directly into the mouth or on food)
• Goldenseal (same instructions as Echinacea)

Other:

• Colloidal Silver (Give just a drop or two, 3x/day. May be mixed with food or put into drinking water.)

For directly combatting the Kennel Cough virus:

Homeopathic Remedies:

•                                                         For soothing throat irritation:
• Honey (about a teaspoon for a small-med dog, a tablespoon for a larger dog, 3x/day)
• Eliminate exposure to second hand smoke.
• Maintain humidity in the environment.

If you have more than one dog in your household, and one of them develops Kennel Cough, you can try to keep that one isolated, to minimize exposure to your other dog(s). However, by the time your dog is symptomatic, the virus has probably already been "shared" with your other pets or any other dogs with which yours has had contact recently. You may wish to treat all of your dogs, as a preventive measure for those that are asymptomatic, to ensure their immune systems are strong enough to ward off infection from the virus. Also, it would be good pet ownership to refrain from taking your ill dog to obedience class, dog shows, or any other dog-related event until s/he has recovered.