DOG SHOW CRUD Non-specific diarrhea syndrome Progressive diarrhea I am *not* a vet, but have had far too much experience with this. The treatment was found by trial & error. We use what works. Please keep an open mind. It's a bacterial imbalance in the digestive tract. Will sometimes test low positive for Parvovirus. It is BACTERIAL. It is NOT a new form of Parvo. Mode of infection: widely varied, but mostly from contact with urine, feces, something brought in on shoes, etc. Symptoms start 12-48hrs after initial contact (usually) & spread to other dogs rapidly (actually, like wildfire). Dogs are initially alert, hungry, energetic. Normal feces starts with mucus sheath & continues to get progressively softer until it is watery & and may contain blood. It then becomes explosive. (my puppies never passed blood although 3 tested low positive for Parvo) Vomiting may accompany & may or may not also contain blood. Feces have a sweet/flowery aroma along with "slaughterhouse on a summer day" smell (similar to Parvo diarrhea but with a floral hint). Feces are *usually* mustard colored. Dogs dehydrate at an astounding rate. Dogs are also at risk of intussusception* from progressive diarrhea. What is happening is that there is a bacterial growth in the digestive tract which throws it off balance. The body is trying to counteract this by removing the extra (or offending) bacteria. It seems to do this by trying to remove ALL body fluids as quickly as possible. Death is caused by massive dehydration. This can occur as quickly as 12hrs or continue for a few days. The younger the dog, the worse it is. Some dogs may never get it, even though they may be kenneled with an afflicted dog. Some dogs also get over this without treatment. The key is to treat this as fast as possible before the dogs go Anorexic AND to treat ALL dogs on the premises (non-afflicted adult dogs should get ONE capsule). Treatment is 250mg Cephalexin per 25lbs of body weight. Puppies should get Cepha-drops (liquid Cephalexin - it's orange colored and flavored and the puppies seem to take it well and keep it down). This MUST be given Orally NOT I/V - it MUST go thru the digestive tract (I don't know WHY it works this way, but it does). If the dog vomits the pill up, just give it again until it stays down. Give another dose approximately 12hrs later. If the dog returns to normal DO NOT medicate again. It's important NOT to run a full 10 day course of this drug so that the "good bacteria" is not destroyed in their system as it has (in the past) caused the bacterial balance to go the other way. If needed, give medication for 2 more days, or when/if ever symptoms re-occur. If the dogs are massively dehydrated, DO NOT use an IV drip. Their circulatory system may be very depressed & *if* a vein can be found, it may not be able to support an IV. Lactated Ringers Solution SUB-Q is suggested & forcing electrolytes orally. IV re-hydration HAS thrown animals into deep shock (see above). Slow re-hydration. Slow - slow - slow. Just enough to keep them alive until the "bug" is nipped in the bud. After the diarrhea has stopped, you can give the dog as many fluids as it/you wants, just not when it is at its most fragile point. You don't want to shock an already shocked system. Also, DO NOT flea-dip/worm/vaccinate at this time, PLEASE!!!!! Anorexic dogs may have to be tempted to eat again. Rare, bloody, slightly garlicky & slightly salty beef has worked best in the past forgetting the appetites working (even cat food). Start small. You may have to give anorexic dogs Nutri-Cal (supplement sold in pet stores or vet clinics - high calorie) to get them going again. But after they are cured they will begin to eat again on their own. Do NOT automatically assume Parvo when you see this. Parvo treatments have killed the majority of Crud dogs. If you suspect Parvo, try the Cephalexin 1st, if it doesn't work, THEN assume Parvo. Do NOT use Amoxy-cillin it acts as a fertilizer for the bacteria. Alternately Keflex has worked in the past. Dogs should show improvement within hours of treatment.
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Intussusception
Intussusception refers to a telescoping of one portion of the intestine
into another.
This results in reduced blood supply to the affected portion of the
intestine.
Addition to post - you may also contact this site owner- Stephanie Cottrell - Oshozenakitas@sbcglobal.net for personal /testimony/ experience with this "CRUD". Necropsies were done on 2 pups lost due to assumed Parvo condition(mis-daignosis and treatment) 5 pups were saved due to the Cepha-drops intervention. Results of both necropsies validated NO KNOWN VIRAL CAUSE OF DEATH... ie NOT PARVO.. Original post credit to Maria Medici, Shih Tzu's & Akita's, Gettysburg PA,Organic emerald maria@PA.NET . And was published on the Akita L March 25,2000. This Site Owner has modified for grammar and layout and additional personal comments or definitions. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ADMIN: All Akita-L email is Copyrighted 2000 by original author. Reproduction or reprinting is strictly prohibited without consent. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: |