JustAnswer > Pet
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Pet

Ask a Pet Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Pet question?

4 Vets and Pet Experts are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Pet Question?

Related Pet Topics:

  • Ear
  • ,
  • Eye
  • ,
  • Egg
  • ,
  • Pup
  • ,
  • Vet
  • ,
  • Dogs
  • ,
  • Eggs
  • ,
  • Food
  • ,
  • Loss
  • ,
  • Life
Bookmark and Share

Question

I have a 3.5 month old puppy. He received his second distemper vaccine 3 days ago. 2 days ago he had part of a pigs ear. In the last 36 hours he has been lethargic with a poor appetite. He has had one small emesis and one blood tinged diarrhea. He takes water and soft food when offerred but is otherwise not the exuberant pup he has been.

Submitted: 92 days and 8 hours ago.
Category: Pet
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Pet's Sex: Male
Pet's Age: <1
Type of Animal: collie/shepherd mix

Already Tried:
letting him rest. Offerring food and water

Posted by Christian K. 92 days and 7 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello,

This is Dr. Christian. Welcome to JustAnswer. A few questions will help me get a clearer picture of this situation:

  • Has he had any shots before this?
  • Can you take his rectal temperature with a digital thermometer and some vaseline?
  • Is there any blood in the vomit?

92 days and 7 hours ago.

Reply

According to the rescue, yes he had his first shots at 7-8 weeks.
Temp was 39.3 centigrade.
No blood on vomit.

Accepted Answer

Thank you for the information. That temperature is normal. Here are some possible causes for bloody stool, lethargy and vomiting:

  • Parvovirus is a deadly, highly contagious disease that is especially dangerous for puppies and their poor immune systems. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. There may be blood in the diarrhea and vomit. 3 things about parvo are deadly to them: the virus itself, bacterial infections from the intestinal tract and dehydration. Treatment usually includes fluids and antibiotics as well as medications for vomiting and to help the immune system fight the virus. Vaccines are incredibly good at preventing the disease but are necessary about every 3 weeks until about 15 to 16 weeks old. One vaccine does not provide enough protection. The disease usually takes 3-7 days to appear after the puppy is exposed so your puppy could have been exposed to parvo before the vaccine was given. Here's a link: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/parvoviral-enteritis/page1.aspx
  • Intestinal parasites are common and include hookworms, roundworms, coccidia and giardia. All of these can cause vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss, lethargy and lack of appetite. Most puppies are infected with roundworms and hookworms very early in life from their mother through the milk or the womb. Giardia is potentially contagious to humans. All of these parasites can be treated but fecal tests are necessary to diagnose them. They can't been seen in the stool with the naked eye. A microscope is necessary to find the eggs in the stool to identify which parasite is present. Here's some links:
    http://www.petplace.com/dogs/intestinal-parasites-in-dogs/page1.aspx

    http://www.petplace.com/dogs/protozoan-parasites-in-dogs/page1.aspx
    http://www.petplace.com/dogs/gastrointestinal-parasites-in-dogs/page1.aspx
  • Colitis- Stress, such as a vaccine, can also cause diarrhea, some lethargy and vomiting. Sometimes puppies become sick enough that fluids and medications are required to keep them from getting dehydrated and weak. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/colitis-in-dogs/page1.aspx

The important thing is to keep him hydrated. You can offer warm chicken broth to get him to drink more. Bland foods such as boiled chicken breast, white rice and scrambled egg whites are best. You can add plain yogurt to help the diarrhea. If the blood worsens, his lethargy doesn't improve then have him checked by a vet. If you have more questions please let me know.

Picture
Expert: Christian K.
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 8/23/2009

Veterinarian

12 years of veterinary experience in medicine, surgery and behavior with exotics,canines and felines

+
Read More

Related Pet Questions

  • my baby boy is in pain..help
  • Great Danes
  • how long does it take for gold fist to have babys
  • peppie
  • Heat and Mating
  • Whats wrong?
  • Blood in Stool
  • English Mastiffs



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2009 JustAnswer Corp.