QUESTION IF PARVO TEST WAS NECESSARY

[HOMER KOCH]

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I just got infected with the dread Coccida parasite. I treated the 12 week old puppy and it is well. There is no Diahrreah, but it seemed like the puppy has lost a little weight and after a month it still had not put on what it had lost. The puppy is eating and drinking well, has plenty of energy, but just to be sure i was not missing something. i took the puppy to the vet for her opinion and diagnosis. She did recheck and the puppy was negative for coccida. My concern is i think the vet might have just been running up the bill. There were no syptoms of the parvo viruss yet she ran a test for parvo. Am I missing something, but can someone explain to me why the test was necessary when there were no syptoms.

 

[JudyN]

If the pup hadn't put weight on in a month, that would be a worrying symptom. If there was any chance of parvo, it would be critical to test for it asap, both for the benefit of the pup and any other dogs they might meet - parvo is a killer.

 

[Hemlock]

Pup is growing. Have you tried giving more food? It isn't about the recommendations on the bag/packet, but about feeding the animal in front of you.

 

[HOMER KOCH]

Pup is growing. Have you tried giving more food? It isn't about the recommendations on the bag/packet, but about feeding the animal in front of you.

Food is available 24 hours a day.

 

[JudyN]

Can I ask what you feed pup - what brand/variety of food?

Generally, it's better for dogs to have specific mealtimes (the number depending on age). Their digestion is designed for this. (Some dogs also find having food available in the house stressful - it's like having a pile of money sitting in the middle of your table where everyone can see it.) Food being constantly available can also mean that pup never truly feels hunger, so is less likely to develop a good appetite.

However you feed, it would be worthwhile to record how much pup actually eats each day, to give an indication of whether they're not gaining weight because of the amount they eat or despite it.

 

[RGC]

Food is available 24 hours a day.

Why?