Coccidia and Diarrhea

[rblack1103]

I have a 5 month old Boston Terrier named Stanley. We've been battling parasites and diarrhea in the poor guy since we picked him up from the breeder 5 weeks ago.

In his first trip to the vet he tested positive for giardia and coccidia. We treated both with Flagyl and Albon, and after two weeks the diarrhea only seemed to be getting worse and there was blood in his stool.

We took him back to the vet and again he tested positive for coccidia. The vet put him on Metro for 10 days, and a diet of overcooked white rice and grilled chicken.

Once he was on the rice diet the diarrhea cleared up. We weened him back on his regular kibble after he completed the meds and once again the diarrhea is back.

Does anyone have experience in treating parasites in their dogs? Is it more likely the meds didn't clear the parasites completely? Was he treated with the right meds? From what I've read parasites are tricky to get rid of and often require several courses of medications. Before going back for another pricy vet visit, is there anything more I can do on my own? Should I put Stanley back on the rice diet?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Giardia is a very persistent bug and may take many courses of treatment, and different course of treatment to cure.

Other possibilities include food allergy, pancreatic insufficiency, and other as yet identified GI parasites.

I would request another course of Metronidazole or Panacur and place your dog on regular kibble during the treatment.  If diarrhea continues on the kibble, request a hypoallergenic prescription diet from your vet as a therapeutic trial.

[rblack1103]

We had a follow-up fecal after the first round of meds. That one tested positive only for coccidia. We haven't gotten a fecal exam since the second round of meds ended.

We have been using acidophilus while on the meds to get the flora level back up.

I called the vet today and they recommened another round of metro and put him back on the rice diet, but to mix 1/2 kibble.

In between treatments the vet had thought he may be sensitive to the kind of kibble we were feeding him, Purina One lamb and rice. We switched over to Purina One chicken and rice which we were told is easier for dogs to digest, but he still had the diarrhea.

Is there a brand of kibble out there that may be better if he does have a sensitivity?

[ireneo]

I see that happen at work where I'll treat an animal for various parasites only to have to repeat the treatment again. Did you have a follow-up fecal done after the meds? Did the doctor recommend using any probiotics to get the gut flora back to normal? Perhaps the coccidia is gone now but your dog has developed a sensitivity to the kibble. The rice diet might make him feel better until the intestines heal up but I don't know if he can stay on it indefinitely, whether it provides all the nutrition he needs in the long run. Sounds like he'll need a visit to the vet again.