Hi. I am a LLLL in Madison, WI. I have been no mail on LACTNET for a long
while so if anyone has a response to the following situation, could you
please email me privately at [log in to unmask] I am on a Samoyed List
(Samoyeds are big fuzzy white arctic type dogs - around 50 pounds) and a
woman has asked for help in dealing with her bitch (an OK word in the dog
world ;-)) and her litter of puppies. She has clostridium enteritis
diarrhea and they want to take the pups off mother's milk and put her on
Metronidazone. The vet thinks the pups won't do well if exposed to this
bacteria. If anyone has any thoughts, please email me privately.

Thanks a zillion,
Marie

Here's the situation. Remember Page is a mother SAMOYED not a person.

First Page's normal temp is 100.5-100.7.  She is running 102.7-103-7,
mostly
on the upper end for 3 days.  Pups are 4 days old.  I was told it's
chlostridium enteritis, a toxin producing bacterium, but the vet said
that was
not causing the fever.  Page has not been on antibiotics for as long as I
have
owned her.  She is a very healthy girl Pups are doing fine now, and
gaining
weight.  Page quit eating and drinking the second day, and now is doing
better.  I was told that it's better to find out what is causing the fever
than just throw antibiotics in, as they can mask other things, especially
in
this case as the antibiotics would wipe out her natural defense
(intestinal
flora) to this bacterium.  The diarrhea was severe, and the culture of C.
entritis was huge.  He said I could consider taking the pups off the
bitch, as
the recommended drug for this is Metronidazone, which in people is not
used
during pregnancy and nursing.  He recommended 2 things, lots of yogurt
with
active cultures (I am also supplementing big doses of acidophilus), and
keeping her very clean.  He said the danger is the puppies getting this,
and I
will know because they will get watery diarrhea.  That would be life
threatening for them.  Keeping a bitch clean with bad diarhea is a hard
job.
I'm changing bedding every few hours, disinfecting her feet when she goes
out,
and wiping her tummy.  The pups don't have it yet.  Page is holding her
own,
eating fairly well, and the pups are good this morning.  Some rough
moments
during the night...pups cried and ran 102.  This morning they are
starving and
happy, and still gaining weight.  I am being a clean freak and waiting
for the
reproduction specialist to call me back with a second opinion.  All
placentas
are accounted for, she was xrayed, and had oxytocin after birth.  Thanks
to
all of you who are offering info.  Taking the pups off her is one option.
Page's stool this morning was semi-solid, a good sign.  She is even
playful
since yesterday. it's very confusing.  Vet saw her a couple days ago and
said
she seems healthy and the pups, too.  Thanks in advance for any additional
info.  Suzie Black





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Cheers,
Marie
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