It is vital that breeders know how to identify the signs of internal parasite infestation, the type of parasite and how to prevent future problems.
Internal parasites have been the bane of many a breeder. Some of these little devils are very effective at hiding from the deworming products we use and have even evolved to “wake up” and move to the mammary glands in time to infect new litters while they nurse. Unfortunately, the concentration of dogs within a breeding facility provides an ideal environment for parasites to pass from one animal to another. Therefore, it is vital that breeders know how to identify signs of infestation, how to identify the type of parasite and how to prevent future problems.
Sometimes the first hint of a lurking problem is loose stools or unresponsive diarrhea. Occasionally, the dog will show no signs at all until it has been unusually stressed by environmental temperatures, relocation, breeding or other illness, at which point he will “break” with diarrhea.
One of the challenges of evaluating a dog or kennel for parasites is the availability of diagnostic tools. Generally, rounds, hooks and whips are all routinely found in fecal floats and can be detected with a routine fecal flotation at your veterinarian’s office. Some of these worms don’t shed eggs consistently, so only one fecal exam may not reveal their presence.
Likewise, increased volume of diarrhea feces can dilute the presence of parasite ova. It’s recommended that a well-planned fecal exam and a deworming schedule be implemented throughout the kennel. Your veterinarian will recommend the best deworming products and frequency of use for your specific needs. Remember that not all drugs work on all intestinal parasites and some may even be dangerous to use in pregnant dogs.
Coccidia and Giardia are not worms but rather intestinal parasites. Coccidia are not generally difficult to diagnose or to treat successfully. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Giardia. They are by far the most prevalent cause of diarrhea in kennels, the most often misdiagnosed and the most likely to be inadequately treated. In a kennel application, the fecal ELISA test, performed at your vet’s office is a great tool. It’s significantly more sensitive than a fecal flotation and will yield a definitive result.
The bigger the dog, the more water is naturally contained in the feces. One of the reasons this happens is that the digestive tract is smaller, relatively speaking, than that of a small dog. The digestive tract of a small breed dog is approximately 7% of its body weight. By comparison, the digestive tract in a large or giant breed dog is only 2.7% of its body weight. So if you were to feed the same food to these two dogs, say a Chihuahua and a St. Bernard, the fecal water content in the Chihuahua’s feces would be minimal, while that of the St. Bernard’s would be excessive. As a result, the Chihuahua’s feces would be well formed and easy to pick up, while the St. Bernard’s would be soupy and messy and no fun at all to clean up.
Surprisingly enough, large and giant breed dogs have great digestive ability. There is, however, a significant difference in the permeability of the intestinal wall. The result of this phenomenon is a return of previously absorbed electrolytes back to the inside of the digestive tract. Another surprising difference between the digestion in small and large breed dogs is the time it takes the food to make its way through the large intestine. In a small breed dog, the time between when it eats and defecation is approximately 23 hours. In a medium breed dog, that same process will require approximately 33 hours. In a large or giant breed dogs, the process takes a whopping 55 hours.
Sometimes, a loose, diarrheic stool will occur from overeating. When food enters the stomach, it stimulates the movement of foodstuff through the digestive tract. The more food that enters the stomach, the more rapidly it progresses along the tract. Therefore, when a dog overeats, the food progresses so quickly that water does not have time to be absorbed. Additionally, faster progression means less efficient digestion, so more nutrient particles remain within the intestine, which acts not only to hold onto water already present, but also to draw additional water from the outside of the intestinal tract.
Other common food-related causes of loose stool include changing foods without a mixed food transition period, especially when there are different sources or amounts of proteins, fat or carbohydrates. Likewise, a change from dry food to canned food can trigger intestinal upset. Sudden access to or excessive intake of table scraps or treats will also alter an otherwise healthy gut.
Intestinal parasites may not be the cause of your dog’s intestinal problems...
When intestinal parasites are not found to be the cause of intestinal problems, other issues may be to blame. Bacterial disease can frequently be the cause of intestinal problems in a kennel, and puppies are particularly vulnerable. Salmonella, Clostridia, and E.coli are among the top offenders in gastrointestinal disease.
Viral pathogens also pose a dangerous threat. Diseases such as Canine Parvovirus, Distemper and Corona Virus can sweep through a kennel like wild fire. Special care is needed to choose the best vaccines to use, and proper attention to the handling and storage of the vaccine is vital to ensure optimal performance and safety. Vaccines that are reconstituted need to be used immediately or they will lose efficacy. If a vaccine reaches room temperature before it is used, it becomes ineffective. If a vaccine that has been improperly handled or stored is used, the breeder has a false sense of security that the animals are protected when, in fact, they are not.