We took max to the vet today for this 3rd round of shots. He has begun to remember what happens at the vets office and let’s just say, he does not like it there. The vet was greeted by a 
lot of whimpering, shaking and nipping.
The vet tech told us that out chug puppy’s next fecal examination was a month away, but we could get it out of the way today if we wanted to. We decided to do this and we were glad we did.
After the fecal examination, the nurse informed us that our chug puppy’s stool contained Coccidia – a fairly common intestinal worm found in young puppies. At first I was alarmed until I found out that it was treatable and very common.
How are Coccidia transmitted?
Coccidia worms are generally transmitted from other dogs feces. They may contract it after they are born, as they have a tendency to eat the feces of other chug dogs in the litter. Puppies have no immunity to the parasite until they are 6 months of age, so it is important that you look out for the symptoms of this disease.
Symptoms of Coccidiosis
- Frequent diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus.
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
This disease, while usually not fatal, is contagious and should be treated with medications such as sulfadimethoxine or trimethroprimsufadiazine.
Make sure you consult with the vet if your chug puppy is showing any of the symptoms of coccidiosis.
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