Question:
We own and live with our 1-1/2-year-old beagle named Belle. She is a house pet who exercises in our backyard.Around April of last year, she was found to have the giardia organism. She was treated three times with metoclopramide and Panacur. After the third treatment, her stool was checked and there was no evidence of giardia, but they found another organism called coccidia. Our vet began the same treatment again.We love and trust our vet, but we're beginning to wonder if there is a more efficient way of treating this troublesome condition. Can the repeated use of these medications diminish their effectiveness or harm our dog in any way?.
N.K., Livonia, MI Feb 06, 2005
Answer:
Dogs, especially beagles, who get into areas where wildlife is active are likely to pick up various infections from contaminated soil, water and vegetation.The recent outbreak of canine distemper in the Chicago area has been traced to raccoons, and even vaccinated dogs have succumbed to this viral strain. Leptospirosis (or "rat jaundice") is also on the rise in some areas and, like Lyme disease, is a zoonosis -- an animal disease that can pass from infected carrier wildlife to dogs and then to humans. Giardia and coccidia are intestinal parasites common in wildlife, and can be passed on to domestic animals as well. Toxoplasmosis can, too, and if contracted by a pregnant woman -- most often from contaminated meat -- can result in serious damage to the fetus. These parasites can develop a resistance to frequently used anti-parasite drugs, which is a problem for farm animals, especially sheep.Your veterinarian is on the right treatment track. Preventive steps you can take include raking your yard to clear brush
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