Coccidia

Question
Hi Marie! Me again! lol. I am slightly irritated that sometimes it's hard to get a straight answer from the vets like I get from you but I will just count my blessings that you make yourself available!

Okay so the other day I stated that my shitzu/terrier was spitting up bile. We tried giving him 1/2 teaspoon of pepto and he spit it all up. The next morning he still spit up so we took him to the emergency vet.  They did x-rays and fecal sample and found out that he has coccidia.  They already gave him an injection this morning at 10:00 am and I gave him the Albon at about 12:30 (oral meds with syringe). Thankfully he has not totally thrown up again but I notice a few times he appears to be regurgitating.  Is this normal?  Also the instructions the vet gave said not to give him food or water for 12 hours, until later this evening and to give him limited water if he drinks it. Then if he doesn't throw it up we can give him a tad bit of food in he morning and slowly increase as long as he doesn't throw that up.  Here are my questions:

1) The vet stated to tell our main vet Monday, that Charlie has Coccidia in case they want to subscribe medication for Snickers also.  But isn't Coccidia only transferred by Wild animal feces?  I remember moving Charlie away one time when I fed my guinea pig and he the little poop that fell on the floor. I am thinking this is where he got it from.  But our Snickers isn't fascinated with our guinea pig's poop as much as he is our cat's poop!  We try our absolute best to keep both dogs away from both animals poop.

2)  The ladies at the front desk of the emergency vet stated if Charlie tonight, does not try to drink water that we can try to give him a little water with the syringe so he doesn't get dehydrated.  Is this okay?

3) Then they said if he still throws up by tomorrow that we might need to take him in again.  Is this true? B/c the actual vet doctor said not to be worried if he doesn't want to eat or drink for a few days but this will have been the second day that he barely had any water (he actually had some water the moment we got home but I lifted it really quick b/c I was told not to give him any for 12 hours).

Thanks for all your help Marie!


Answer
Hello - Well, coccidia is very common in pups and dogs under 1 year old.  He did not get it from the guinea pig, mostly it would be from other dogs and cats that have walked and pooped in the same areas as he.  This is a common problem for domestic animals and some wild animals carry it too.  The Albon should take care of this.

Coccidia will hit a dog or cat at a young age or with a weakened immune system.  You should make sure he gets some NuVET Plus - to strengthen his immune system... coccidia can take a while to fight off, even with the Albon.

Give him some water in a syringe tonight... Just 2-4 cc per every 2 hours.  ( when awake).  

I would take him back to the vet only if he is vomiting and can't keep any fluids down at all.

Good Luck with this!  You will get thru it!!!


Marie Peppers
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html