My dog has caught a parasite from my brothers dog and has had diarrhea for 24 hours?

Question

I don't want to take him to the Vet if I don't have to bc it cost my brother $900 to have it completely taken care of.

If my dog just has a parasite causing him diarrhea, will this eventually run its course and leave his system (like when humans get the stomache flu)?

My dog is completely immunized...his booster shots are not due until August.

We give him heartgard every month, so I don't think it is worms.

It cost my brother $900 total bc the dog went to a 24-hour emergency facility to be checked out initially ($200) and then had to spend 2 straight days on IV treatments at the normal vet...where they examined a stool sample and couldn't find anything but treated him for a rare parasite that is hard to see.

Both dogs began at a new daycare on April 23 and my brothers dog began having diarrhea on April 28. My dog then began having the diarrhea on May 4.

Answer 1

May not be an actual parasite but an organism like

coccidia

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=727

or Giardia

http://www.priory.com/vet/giardia.htm

Just because it cost your brother $900 does not mean it will cost the same for you and if you do not treat your dog could get worse( meaning much higher cost to treat) and possibly die

The cost may have been high been it took several tests to figure out what was wrong, it could have been high because of a delay in getting the dog checked out so the dog was much sicker and required more supportive care, for exaample dog became severely dehydrated , the earlier you go the less additional problems occur so cost becomes less

It may not even be that your dog caught it from your brother dogs but they may caught it drinking out of a contaminated stream or puddle


Take the dog in with some of its stool(so it can be tested, plus if you collect yourself then you spare the cost of the vet obtaining the sample himself.)

Stop feeding the dog today(which will help to stop the diarreaha and prevent fluild loss) try to get into the vet tomorrow, just make sure it has plenty of water so it does not dehydrate if not drinking much add a little bit of low sodium meat broth to the water, keeping the dog from dehydrating is important , otherwise the vet will have to SUB Q your dog(meaning injecting saline under the skin to get fluids into the body , which equals extra $$$)

Find out what exactly your brothers dog had may save of the number of tests needed to find out what is wrong with your dog

Answer 2

Well - did your brother's dog just get better on his own? Then why would you think your dog will?

I can't actually envisage a situation where a parasite would require £900 worth of treatment. Maybe if the parasite had been present for a very long time and caused lots of secondary problems.

If the dog has a parasite, you cannot compare this to human stomach flu, which can have a viral or bacterial cause that the immune system can fight off. Parasites don't just 'leave' - they have to be killed, the immune system can't do it.

I think if you get the animal to the vet asap it will not cost anywhere NEAR this much to treat - but if you leave it a long time you will end up having to fork out hundreds!!

Chalice

Answer 3

If your husband brought home the wrong food, likely this is just a reaction to a strange diet. Dogs' foods cannot suddenly be changed, but should gradually be introduced to a new food. Go buy the correct food, and feed your dog that, increase water intake (diarrhea can cause dehydration) and watch for any further signs of illness. If so, take to vet.

Answer 4

You didn't say what your brother dog had. It may be nothing your dog had, maybe ate something that didn't agree with him, Just having him check out wouldn't cost all that much. It is best you do that. I also wanted to say this...

I see a lot of people in here saying they are a vet or a vet tech. I just want to say not everyone is who they say they are and for you to all use your own judgment. Pleas don't take any advice from them without checking with your own vet.

The best thing you can do for your dog is let your vet check him out. Like I said it could be something that can be easily taken care of.

Answer 5

You need to take him to the vet ASAP. Can you be certain that it is a parasite? Usually it doesn't cost $900.00 to get ride of worms. Maybe it's Parvo or something more serious. Only a vet can give you the information that you need to get him feeling better. If you don't take him in there can be serious consequences. Diarrhea causes dehydration therefore it can be lifethreatening. Also parasites can be passed on to humans as well, so make sure that you are washing your hands everytime you touch him or any of his things. Good Luck

Answer 6

if he has a parasite then it is not likely that he lose it on his own. also if it is a parasite, then the parasite is making eggs, and depositing them in his poop and wherever he went diarrhea, thats where eggs could be. not only could this be harmful to other dogs, i think that some parasite can jump over to humans as well ( not sure of this but it good to play it safe). if you really want to know about this, i recommend that you should search for it on Google. but i think its in the dogs best interest to take it to the vet.

Answer 7

What kind of parasite? I have never heard of it costing $900.00 to get rid of worms and if it was so costly to get rid of your brthers dogs worms what makes you thinkyour dogs worms will just mysteriously disapear? How do you even know that is whats wrong? Have you taken a stool sample to the vet to be checked?
That would be your first step.

Answer 8

If it is a parasite then it will not run it's course. Your dog will need medication which is a simple fix.
However, to fix a "parasite" that cost $900 - that sounds like parvo. Deadly. If that's the case... it will cost mega bucks...if you can save your dog. Is there any blood in the stool? Is your dog eating or drinking? Temperature?

Answer 9

which parasite? or did you mean a disease?

if you mean worms, no, they will not go away by themselves, they will just get worse and could kill your dog.

also if you mean worms, he does not have to be near other dogs to catch them - your dog can pick up worm eggs from the ground outside.

you should be worming your dog on a monthly basis (depending on what product you use) for its entire life.

if its diarrhea is bad, you need to get it to the vets straight away and being worming it straight away. diarrhea can kill a dog - it strips their body of water and nutrients - they become dehydrated very quickly.

you also need to make sure he is completely immunised.
.