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Question:
I'm having a problem with Giardia. I am treating the puppies
and moms with Panacur for five days at two-week intervals.
Is there anything else I can do? How effective are the
Giardia vaccines?
Kristi Key E-Mail
kristikey@sbcglobal.net
Web Page
www.keyperspartipoodles.com
Answer:
First, let me address the vaccine for Giardia. For now,
there is no research that indicates that the vaccine will
prevent an animal from contracting Giardia. Usually animal
vaccinations are given as a preventative, and the Giardia
vaccine fails to prevent an animal from contracting the
disease, so I don't routinely use or recommend the vaccine.
However, the vaccine may be of some use in decreasing the
shedding of Giardia oocysts, so it may help to control a
"kennel" outbreak.
There appear to be some resistant
strains of Giardia, and many have found it useful to use
Panacur and Metronidazole ( Flagyl ) together, or at least
alternating between the two drugs. With strains that appear
to be resistant, it is important to make sure that you are
using the highest possible dose that is safe. The dosage
will depend upon how you are using the drugs, either
together or alternating them. At the very least, I would
give the Panacur for seven consecutive days, then either
nothing or Metronidazole for seven days, followed by another
seven days of Panacur. Stool samples should be checked
regularly to ensure that the Giardia is being eliminated.
Samples that show no Giardia should also be Elisa tested for
Giardia. In addition, EVERYTHING needs to be thoroughly
cleaned, the water source should be tested for Giardia, and,
if possible, you should stop using any earthen or grassy
yards that may be contaminated with Giardia. Your
veterinarian should be able to assist you in formulating a
treatment and disinfection plan.
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Question:
There is a lot of talk about the new strain of parvo. Can
you tell me what you know about it and what cautions we need
to take with our puppies.
Susan
Answer:
Here is some "official" information about type 2c parvo:
Hong C, Decaro N, Desario C, Tanner P, Pardo MC, Sanchez S,
Buonavoglia C, Saliki JT.
Athens Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2 (CPV-2) emerged around 1978
as a major pathogen of dogs worldwide. In the mid-1980s, the
original CPV-2 had evolved and was completely replaced by 2
variants, CPV-2a and CPV-2b. In 2000, a new variant of CPV
(named CPV-2c) was detected in Italy and now co-circulates
with types 2a and 2b in that country. The CPV-2c has also
been reported from single outbreaks in Vietnam and Spain.
This study was conducted to determine if CPV-2c occurs in
the United States. Thirty-three fecal samples were collected
from dogs in 16 states between April 2006 and April 2007 and
were tested for CPV using real-time polymerase chain
reaction (PCR). Positive samples were further tested using
conventional PCR and minor-groove binding TaqMan PCR assays
to determine the viral type and to differentiate vaccine
strains from field strains. Twenty-seven samples were
positive for CPV, 7 of which were CPV-2c from 5 states:
Arizona, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas. Of the 7
isolates, 4 differed from European CPV-2c isolates by 2
additional single-nucleotide mutations at positions 4076 and
4104, the latter of which produces a ThrAla change at
residue 440 located near a major antigenic site. The
coast-to-coast geographic distribution of the states in
which CPV-2c was detected strongly suggests that this new
CPV variant is probably widespread in the United States. The
continuous evolution of CPV requires that monoclonal
antibody-based and nucleic acid-based diagnostic assays
should be periodically checked for sensitivity on prevalent
CPV strains.
PMID: 17823398 [PubMed - indexed for
MEDLINE]
Here is a link to an interesting article,
but the research was sponsored by a vaccine company (you may
need to copy and paste it into your browser):
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/550668
The new strain of parvo (type 2c) seems to cause
more severe disease than previous strains. It also seems to
have an affinity for cardiac muscle, even in older dogs, and
possibly in previously vaccinated dogs whose vaccinations
may be overdue, or whose immune systems may not be
functioning correctly. The other parvo strains also affected
cardiac muscle in very young pups who had no maternal
antibody to parvo. This was often seen in the "early days"
of parvo in the late 1970's. Now we rarely see pups without
any maternal antibody to the original strains of parvo, but
it does happen every now and then, and we do see cardiac
muscle affected. The new strain may also show negative or a
weak positive on the most common parvo tests. Your
veterinarian must depend on other tests, such as the WBC
count, to aid in diagnosing infection with the new strain.
Generally, we go by the adage: if it looks and acts like
parvo, then treat it like parvo. In general, the treatment
for parvo is also a good regimen for any severe intestinal
disease. If there is cardiac involvement, there is usually
not much we can do to prevent death. I strongly recommend
that any suspicious deaths due to parvo-like symptoms have
tissues sent to a lab (Oklahoma State is the lab of first
choice). Your veterinarian can take care of this for you.
While the testing is expensive, you need to know if you are
facing the new strain. There is information in the .pdf file
in the link above.
As far as trying to prevent
problems with this strain, I recommend a vaccine program
using vaccines proved to be somewhat effective against the
new strain. There are some mentioned in the link above, and
your veterinarian should be willing to work with you to get
appropriate vaccines. Remember that currently there is no
vaccine actually containing type 2c parvo, but several
vaccines do seem to "cross protect" against this strain. You
should also practice all the management techniques that have
been effective in helping control the other strains of parvo.
Clean and disinfect, clean and disinfect, clean and
disinfect. Keep strange dogs away from your kennels and keep
your dogs away from possible exposure until at least 2 weeks
after finishing their vaccination series. Give this same
advice to those who give homes to your puppies.
Go
to:
www.veterinarypartner.com and search on parvo.
There you will find excellent information on parvo.
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Question:
I have heard if you have a Toy Poodle who has to have a
C-section that the bitch can pass that trait on to her
puppies. Is this hereditary?
Phillipa
Answer:
Pelvic (canal) size is the major "hereditary" trait that
would be a factor in whether or not a female would need a
C-section. Also, some small dogs (both males and females)
"throw" larger pups. Any of the breeds that have "bred down"
sizes (like Poodles) can always have a "throwback" to their
larger ancestry. It is important to remember, though, that
size "problems" are not the only cause of C-Sections.
Abnormal positioning of pups (for instance, the head in one
uterine horn and the rear in the other), uterine "inertia"
(where the uterus is unable to contract properly due to any
one or more of several causes), and even abnormal fetuses
(some of which are hereditary and some of which are only
congenital) can all necessitate a C-Section. It is not true
that once a female has had a "C”, she will always need one.
It depends on what made the C-section necessary in the first
place. While some of the causes for needing a C-section
could be hereditary, most are not. If your female has to
have a "C", discuss the probable cause with your
veterinarian and from that determine what the chances are
that the cause would be hereditary.
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