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Parvo
Like Symptoms
When your
dog shows first symptoms, immediately go to your veterinarian
and have a Parvo Test run, so you know what you are dealing
with!
The name of this infection is "Campylobacteriosis."
Definition: Campylobacteriosis: acute diarrhea in puppies runs
course in seven to ten days ***can cause a severe enteritis in
humans.
There is a webpage with information
http://www.aone.com/~skylok1/health.html#DOGSHOW
CRUD
For more on
this disease http://www.mednets.com/campylobacteriosis.htm
It's a bacterial imbalance in the digestive tract. Will
sometimes test low positive for Parvovirus.
It is BACTERIAL. It is NOT a new form of
Parvo.
Very Contageous
Mode of infection: widely varied, but mostly from contact with
urine, feces, something brought in on shoes, etc.
Symptoms start 12- 48hrs after initial
contact (usually) & spread to other dogs rapidly.
Symptoms
Dogs are alert, hungry, energetic. Normal
feces starts with mucus sheath & continues to get progressively
softer until it is watery & contains blood. It then becomes
explosive. Vomiting may accompany & may or may not also contain
blood. Feces have a sweet/flowery aroma along with a
"slaughterhouse on a summer day" smell (similar to Parvo
diarrhea but
with a floral hint). Feces are *usually* mustard colored. Dogs
dehydrate at an astounding rate. Dogs are also at risk of
intussusceptions.
What is happening is that there is a bacterial growth in the
digestive tract which throws it off balance. The body is trying
to counteract this by removing the extra (or offending)
bacteria. It seems to do this by trying to remove ALL body
fluids as quickly as possible. Death is
caused by massive dehydration. This can occur as quickly as
12hrs or continue
for a few days. The younger the dog, the worse it is. Some dogs
may never get it, even though they may be kenneled with an
afflicted dog. Some dogs also get over this without treatment.
Treatment
The key is to treat this as fast as possible before the dogs go
anorexic AND to treat ALL dogs on the premises (non-afflicted
dogs should get ONE capsule). Treatment is 250 mg Cephalexin per
25lbs of body weight.
Pups may get Ceph-drops. This MUST be
given orally NOT I/V - it MUST
go thru the digestive tract (I don't know WHY it works
this way, but it does). If the dog vomits the pill up, just give
it again until it stays down. Give another dose approx. 12hrs
later. If the dog returns to normal DO
NOT medicate again. It's important NOT to run a full 10 day
course of this drug as it has (in the past) caused the bacterial
balance to go the other way. If needed, give medication for 2
more days, or whenever symptoms reoccur.
If the dogs are massively dehydrated,
DO NOT use an IV drip. Their circulatory system will
be very depressed & *if* a vein can be found, it may not be able
to support an IV. Lactated Ringers
Solution SUB-Q is suggested & forcing electrolytes orally.
IV rehydration HAS thrown animals into deep shock (see above).
Slow rehydration. Slow slow slow.
Just enough to keep them alive until the *bug* is nipped in the
bud.
After the diarrhea has stopped, you can cram the dog as full of
fluids as you want, just not when it is at its most fragile
point.
Anorexic dogs have to be tempted to eat again. Rare, bloody,
slightly garlicky & slightly salty beef has worked the best in
the past forgetting the appetites working. Start small. You may
have to give anorexic dogs Nutri-Cal to get them going again.
But after they are cured they *will* begin to eat again.
Do NOT automatically assume Parvo when
you see this. Parvo treatments have killed the majority of Crud
dogs. If you suspect Parvo, try the Cephalexin 1st, if it
doesn't work, THEN assume Parvo. Do NOT use Amoxicillin.
Keflex has worked in the past. Dogs should show improvement
within hours of treatment.
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