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View Full Version : Loss of weight and bloody & mucusy stools


Sassycassie
Nov 2, 2008, 07:28 AM
I have an 8 week old miniature schnuazer that has had bloddy stools and mucusy. He doesn't seem to eat as much as he should but does eat (eats better since I switched his food). He has lost weight and is down to 2.4 lbs. The bloody stools have seemd to stop for that last 2 days but is stool watery and mucusy. He seems to be constipated at the same time since he is trying to go potty every 5-15 min. and is straining constently to where is little annual is sticking out all the time. He has been tested for coxcidia and worms and the vet doesn't feel it's parvo since this has been for about 3 weeks and the other puppies and my 3 dogs are showing no signs. This is the mother's 3rd litter and the same thing happened to one puppy from the 2nd letter that died. He's been on 2 different antibiotics that only seems to have helped stop the blood in the stool. I'm at my wits end and the vet is stumped. This is a different vet from the second litter (and he was stumped, too). Please help me since my sister is talking about putting him down if the blood counts do not show anything due to the cost.

homebirthmom
Nov 2, 2008, 08:13 AM
I'm sorry I'm unable to help, though I am going to give my opinion.
I can see why you are worried and upset, and I understand your sister's concerns as well. My thoughts are, if the vet is stumped, and this has happened with a pup from a previous litter, it sounds like it could possibly be some hereditary disease. If this being the case, and the mother is only a carrier, it could wind up being a slow painful death for the little pup. I would consider euthanizing the pup for this reason. No one wants to suffer, nor see an animal suffer.
Also, there are rescue shelters that take in animals that are sick and or injured. I'm talking about no-kill shelters not "the pound".

misamericanpie
Nov 6, 2008, 10:00 PM
I have had problems in the past with a vet misdiagnosing an animal. Parvo is a big misdiagnosis. In the past if you took a dog to the vet with vomiting and bloody, watery stool his/her first 'guess' would be "Parvo." The problem with that is that there are a lot of parasites, illnesses and other problems that have the same symptoms as parvo.

Two summers ago I had a puppy, which had all his shots, get sick. I told the vet I thought it might be coccidia since there were so many birds out where I live. Birds tend to carry the parasite and dogs love bird poo. The vet said, and I quote, “I think its parvo.” I hesitantly accepted his diagnosis only to lose the puppy. Another one got sick. I took a stool sample to different vet. I told him I believe it is coccidia and will not accept parvo or “I think its parvo” as an answer. I want a thorough check and especially for coccidia. I was right, it was coccidia that they had. Thanks to the other vets misdiagnosis I lost the first puppy to a horrible death that could have been very easily cured. A lot of the time, it is not parvo but something else. Parvo is horrible but if caught soon enough can be cured. It is not air born. The horrible smell is the smell of the curdled, congealed blood for which is noticed in cases with coccidia or other parasites and even in cancer patients. That does not mean it is parvo. It is also a sign of pancreatitis as well as something that was swallowed and shouldn't have been. The best test is a thorough test, even a 1st, 2nd and 3rd opinion.

I have cared for animals for over 20 something years and I have seen a lot and dealt with a lot. Before you let that puppy go any further have him checked for other parasites especially coccidia.

misamericanpie
Nov 6, 2008, 10:03 PM
Before you take him to a no kill shelter take in mind the economy. The no kill shelters are having serious problems with getting funding/donations right now. They are either not taking in animals or having to do something they don't want to do due to poor funding. Some shelters have taken their non adoptables to kill shelters because of finances. Check all your options before you do something drastic.