Dog Health: Coccidiosis, Giardia

I am wondering what people's experiences with coccidia or coccidiosis and or giardia might be.

I got some sulmet 12.5 solution and will be starting some pups on it. I've googled Sulmet 12.5 dosage for dogs and came
across different dosages and methods of administering it to dogs/puppies. I am curious to hear if anyone has used Sulmet before for their dogs/puppies and what are your experiences and opinions on using it.

Also, I came across a drug prescribed for giardia called Metronidazole which is available for fish under the name of Fish Zole. If anyone has information about using this, and would like to share, please do so.

http://tdha.org/tdha_smf/index.php?topic=4495.0

Don't got any experience with either disease or remedy mentioned, Sorry!

I'm very interested in what you find.....I always thought giardia was a human digestion infection caused by bacteria in water I never had a dog come down with that. If you dont mind calling me with your results after I'd appreciate it.......ill pm u my number.

Mahalo for your replies and interest in this subject. The only previous experience I've had was with coccidia. And it happened while I had
a dog at the animal quarantine facility in Halawa Valley here on O'ahu some time back. In the early 80's to be exact. Like most folks that work, I
would only get to see my dog on the weekends but a few days after the pup arrived, I was notified by the quarantine staff that my
dog appeared to be sick and would be taken to the vet that I had listed when I set up arrangements there just prior to the pup
arriving from the US continent. Later, I was told the dog had cocci or coccidia or coccidiosis, however way they call it. I called the
breeder who lived in Arizona at the time, who swore up and down that he had never had a dog come down with cocci in his life.
Coccidia is somehow related to birds or fowl. He fought roosters at places like COPPERSTATE which was still in operation back then,
even going as far as saying that one of his winning birds was featured on a then recent cover of the GAMECOCK magazine. It really
didn't matter so much as what was important was saving the pup's life. She had gotten dehydrated from the diarrhea caused by the
coccidia infection. She was treated and returned to the quarantine facility where she managed to recover successfully.

As for giardia, I haven't had any experience with it other than hearing that someone's dog(s) had come down with it.

Recently, I received several young pups from different litters and noted that the three from one litter had the "runs". Thinking that it had
something to do with having worms, I wormed the pups. The "runs" continued. Also there was some blood in the stool. So,
I am/was concerned.

---
I'm not a vet and I probably shouldn't be trying to diagnose illnesses on my own, but I am suspecting that these pups may have coccidia. I called
around and found someone with a limited supply of Sulmet 12.5 solution and went and got some. I will be starting to administer the Sulmet to these
pups this morning, probably using a syringe to shoot it down their throats. I've read that dogs don't like the taste of it and saw recommendations of
mixing it with Omega 3 fish oil. I'll try it straight and see what happens. The guy that sold it to me uses a cap full or a tablespoon to a gallon of water.

That's the dosage recommended (he said) for fighting roosters. He said he had a dog that had cocci before and he used the same dosage
and gave it to the dog until the symptoms were gone. From what I've read, the initial dosage is larger than the ones given on the days
following the first dose.I was told to have the Sulmet solution mixed with water (the way the guy recommended) as the only source
of drinking water during the treatment period. I'm worried about having the Sulmet solution not being ingested by the pups because of
its taste, and have decided to use the syringe method instead of having the Sulmet sitting in a water bowl all day.

---

I hope that this treatment helps these pups, as they are well bred pups, top and bottom, and would hate to lose any of them.
Again, I don't recommend trying to diagnose any illness in any animal, but I am taking a calculated guess/risk and hoping that I'm correct in my
assessment of what may be ailing these pups.

---
Mahalo, Jusacruzah and HYPA. for contributing to the thread and helping to get a discussion going.


benny

Coccidiosis- http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/21200.htm&word=Coccidiosis%2cof%2cdogs
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/21206.htm&word=Coccidiosis%2cof%2cdogs

Giardia- http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/21300.htm&word=Giardia%2cof%2cdogs

Just a fast response for now. The cure I used for the 2 diseases is panacur. I stay at work right now. Ill respond more breifly later. Shoots.

Mahalo nui for sharing the info from the Merck book, Isaac and for recommending Panacur, Ola.
I really appreciate you guy's kokua big time.

b.

Np benny. The coccidia and giardia were both from the quarantine. My chick use to fly in expensive dogs from the mainland for dog shows and breeding so we were always utd with diseases and cures. She is also good friends with dr. lau, who is/ was the vet at kalihi pet clinic who would also assist us with a lot of information about the 2 diseases. The coccidia has also infected us in the past due to our neighbors use to raise fighting chickens next door so it was easy for us to pick up again. I'm pretty sure they are both intestinal bacteria and for sure, they can both be treated with panacur. The giardia is sometimes caused by dirty kennels or stagment water, from rivers or whatever it may be, as far as I was told. We never had either so idk how true that is. Giardia is mostly cmmon in puppies due to the fact that whatever has caused it, the puppies immune system or intestinal system is too weak. They are both common bacterias. I have not had them in my kennels as far as hunting dogs but I have dealt with them with pure bred exotic breeds. I would definately reccomend the "PANACUR!" due the to fact that it has worked for us.Panacur is a powder. Its a 5 day process which the panacur is spread over the food and the pup/dog must comsume the full dosage for the whole 5 days. The dosage is different due to the dogs/pups weight. The quarantine uses it for the coccidia and uses the metronidazole pill for the giardia.

I respond only by my experience and thmis is what knowledge I have about the 2. Its a good thing for hunters to read about because I know a lot of hunters first response is always " gotta worm the dog". Its only a 50/50 chance it could be worms. Most times its not. Only the smart omes will do the research and learn about other diseases because it could cost someone a dog one day, maybe a good one at that.