Parasites in Pups are not uncommon at all
Every Good Breeder has a protocol for Treating Pups at 2,4,6,8 weeks for worms
Coccidious and Giardia that happen frequently no matter how clean your home is or steps you take to try and prevent, Read Information below and know that it can happen even after pup goes home andbe prepared to call y ou breeder and or treat your puppy also
What are giardia and coccidia? Good question! They are both very common parasites that are found in the soil, water, or feces of other animals. Did you know that the most common parasite affecting the human system is also giardia? You would have no idea that the little stomach ache you had, or the digestive system issue were because of that pesty little parasite. But it’s true! The same is true with puppies and dogs. They will more than likely be exposed to both of these little parasites numerous times throughout their life, if you allow your dog to run around outside, meet other dogs, swim in the lake, or quickly grab that yummy deer poop they found while out hiking with you in the woods. Most dogs are asymptomatic carriers, and only during times of stress will their systems be less able to deal with it and physical symptoms actually become evident. One of those times can be when puppies are transitioning to new homes as that is a time of high stress.
Our puppies are raised in a non-kennel environment where they are allowed to experience the world as they grow. They are taken out for little romps and walks on our property. They walk over the ground where the deer and turkey have been, the chatty squirrel that loves to tease them, and the numerous roaming cats that love to search for mice and gophers in the fields. Our puppies enjoy learning about life and living in the real world, which means they are exposed to real world things, like giardia and coccidia.
Many families who receive puppies take them in for a vet exam the first few days. The vet will do a well check, which sometimes includes doing a fecal test. Please be aware that only the expensive SNAP test is a conclusive one, so any other test is not 100% reliable. There can be false positives or negatives. If they do run the SNAP test and it shows giardia, they will likely want to treat with metronidazole or fenbendazole even if your puppy is not symptomatic. If coccidia shows up in a fecal test, that is common. Research is showing that EVERY dog harbors this in their system. Dogs typically develop an immunity to coccidia causing any physical symptoms by the time they reach 12-16 weeks of age. If a test does show coccidia, your vet will likely want to treat with Albon.
We do our best to send healthy puppies home without any issues at all. We also do our best to make sure your puppy was well socialized and introduced to lots of experiences in the world around them that are safe while they are with us. We love raising our puppies where they have room to play and run and enjoy nature, but it comes with risks as well. These two pesty little parasites are the bane of most breeders existence as many families become very concerned when a vet says their puppy has a parasite. Just remember, parasites are common and even you more than likely have them in your system. Don’t be alarmed about giardia and coccidia. Be informed and educated. They are real and common and you will deal with it at some point while raising your puppy or dog.
SO, HERE IS OUR RECOMMENDATION…..
We recommend that you have fenbendazole (Safeguard or Panacur) on hand for when your puppy arrives home to you, and automatically treat for 5 days in a row. If giardia is in the system and stress causes it to overgrow and cause a stool issue, you will already be on top of treating. Safeguard can be picked up at any pet store and is also a normal worming treatment, so having it on hand is good for treatment of worms later as well. As for coccidia, there aren’t any non-prescription meds that we can recommend legally, so if a fecal test shows this and your vet wants to treat, they’ll need to provide you with the Albon.