My 2-month-old puppy has had Giardia for several weeks now

M
Marina24 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I adopted a French Bulldog puppy from a breeder on 11/01/2020. The puppy immediately came down with a stomach upset. The breeder told me it was just due to the change of environment and that it would pass quickly.

By the next day, there was no improvement; in fact, his condition was deteriorating. He stopped eating his dry food and was barely drinking, and his poo was extremely runny and acidic. I took him to the emergency vet the following morning. They ran some tests and he tested positive for Giardia. The vet prescribed a week-long course of treatment consisting of Panacur, Eradia, Canikur, Smecta, and Imodium.

After four days of treatment, we saw no improvement at all. I took him back to a vet who told me to keep going with the meds. When he still wasn't better by the end of the course, I took him back again. The vet gave me a new treatment plan but suggested that—considering the cost of all these tests and because I work during the day and can’t keep a constant eye on him—I should try to reach an agreement with the breeder. The idea was that they are more experienced than I am and could look after the puppy until he's better. I also didn't want to put the pup at risk, as he would only eat chicken, was having bouts of diarrhoea very frequently, and was clearly in pain with his tummy. So, that is what I did.

Their vet changed his treatment yet again. It has now been a week since I took the puppy back to the breeder. He has been on a drip because he refuses to eat his kibble. I’d found a workaround by crumbling chicken over his dry food because he loves chicken and eats it happily, so I passed that tip on to the breeder.

He was on the IV for three days before they removed it, but he still has severe stomach issues and has only gained about 70g (roughly 2.5oz). He only weighs 1.65kg (about 3.6lbs) as he is a very small build.

Has anyone ever dealt with a similar situation with their puppy? Do you know if there could be another underlying problem?

Thanks

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13 answers
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  • Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    Evening all, Here’s a site I keep in my little pet health records: https://www.vismedicatrixnaturae.fr And my boards for my girls: https://www.pinterest.fr/Doudou229/pour-chiens/ https://www.pinterest.fr/Doudou229/le-barf-pour-chien/
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    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    White Diatomaceous Earth (available in approx. 7oz, 2.2 lbs, 4.4 lbs, 1 stone 8 lbs, and 3 stone 2 lbs sizes) - Food Grade, High Purity and suitable for Organic Farming - Made in France (4.4 lbs)
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    M
    Marina24 Icon representing the flag French
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    Thank you very much for your detailed reply.

    I’ll pass this information on to the breeder.

    Have a lovely evening.

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    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41mAsgC7KYL._AC_.jpg

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    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    You can use diatomaceous earth for worms; your vet should be familiar with this alternative 90-day dietary treatment.

    Be careful though, it must be certified FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth.

    There are two types and you need to be really careful, as even some sellers can get them mixed up.

    I use this one, or Diaguard.

    Personally, I’ve never tried it for worms, but I know people who use it successfully...

    https://www.vismedicatrixnaturae.fr/remedes-recettes/la-terre-de-diatomee-des-tresors-de-bienfaits/

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    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    Marina While you're waiting for his stool test results, you can add a few small pieces of raw chicken (like breast fillets) to his dry food. About four small cubes, roughly the size of a small dice, will help add moisture and keep him hydrated. You can also add some boiled carrots (about a tablespoon), mashed with a fork into a purée. Once the results are in (to see if there are still worms) and if the vet gives him another treatment... We’ll take it from there. Try to get to a health food shop to pick up some organic blond psyllium husk; a 100g or 200g pack is usually around £5. It’s a great thing to have in the medicine cabinet for both you and your dog, as it works both ways—for diarrhoea and for constipation. A real little miracle of nature! I’ll post the dosages below. For the organic blond psyllium: Get the powder rather than capsules. It’s much easier to dose for our furry friends and for us too. For the animal: The measurements are in ml, using a measuring scoop (1ml is roughly 0.65g): Cats: 1 to 2.5ml per day Dogs: 2.5 to 5ml per 10kg (approx. 22lbs or 1 stone 8lbs) per day Mix the psyllium powder with five times its volume of water, wait for the gel to form, and then mix it into their meals. It should help clear up his diarrhoea. https://wamiz.com/chiens/husky-siberien-206/forum/husky-avec-diarrhee-persistante-94614.html
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    M
    Marina24 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, Thanks for your advice. I do plan on following the treatment from my vet, but he seems a bit at a loss because there’s been no improvement so far. That’s why I thought it might be really helpful if anyone else has been through this with their puppy. Best wishes, Marina
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    Doudou229
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    Hi Jazz

    No, I know you didn't mean anything by it 🙂 I agree, the vet's care and diagnosis are really important.

    That’s why I was asking Marina what treatment had been prescribed for her little one...

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    J
    Jazz17 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi @Marina 24, I haven't dealt with this illness with my own dogs, but I think even if the treatment seems like a lot to take on, it’s really important to follow the prescriptions from the vet who's currently looking after him. The advice @Doudou is giving you is meant to be a supplement, but it shouldn't lead you to stop the medical treatment altogether (nothing against you @Doudou, but sometimes people give up on everything and replace meds with homeopathy or other alternatives, which can sometimes have serious consequences). Wishing you lots of strength for what’s to come and all the very best for your little one...
    Translated from French
    M
    Marina24 Icon representing the flag French
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    No, I haven't changed brands; I've stuck with the Royal Canin he was on, but he just went off it overnight. What can I give him to eat instead that would suit him? He finished his last course of wormer just over a week ago—it was Panacur. The chicken he’s eating is cooked.
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