Coccidia
Coccidia are tiny one-celled parasites that live in the intestines of dogs and cats. Almost every puppy is exposed to them: they are carried by flies, rabbits, mice, birds and other animals and live in soil and grass, so any puppy that plays outside will meet them. Many puppies are never affected, and healthy adult dogs are usually immune.
Stress, such as leaving the litter for a new home, can let coccidia multiply. Most cases of coccidiosis appear in the first 21 days after a puppy moves home. Signs range from mildly soft stools to diarrhea with mucus or blood, poor appetite and vomiting. A severe case can dehydrate a puppy quickly.
The strains that infect dogs don't infect people or cats.
Giardia
Giardia are also one-celled parasites. They are one of the most common causes of waterborne illness, and are picked up from water or ground soiled with feces. Their cysts survive for weeks or months in cold, wet places. Dogs don't become immune after treatment, so they can catch giardia again. It can cause watery stools, vomiting, weight loss and, over time, a dull coat and low energy.
What we do
- Puppies are wiped down with a disinfectant wipe every day, and bathed and rinsed regularly, because cysts can stick to the coat.
- Puppies go to a clean area every day while their previous area is cleaned with bleach, and we disinfect the whole puppy area weekly.
- Food and water bowls are cleaned with a little bleach every day.
- Every puppy is dewormed three times and treated to prevent coccidia and giardia before going home.
At home
- Pick up and dispose of stools straight away, and clean bowls, crates and pens often.
- Give clean, fresh drinking water, and don't let your puppy drink from puddles or ponds.
- Keep the first few weeks calm: less stress means less chance of a flare-up.
When to call your vet
Call your vet if your puppy has watery stools, blood in the stool, vomiting, or stops eating or drinking. Watery diarrhea can lead to dehydration quickly in a puppy. Don't give any medication without your vet's advice.
A negative stool test doesn't always rule these parasites out, because they aren't shed in every stool. Your vet may ask for samples on several days.