EPI or Poor Keeper? - Page 3

Giardia is COMMON expecially among kenneled dogs and it DOES cause weight loss or lack of weight gain and often no other symptoms. 

Jenni, please don't jump to conclusions! The litters were at LEAST a year apart!

Now have more history: she is UTD with worming, and had a stool check done prior to worming. So, we are looking at other issues.

Too busy to post more right now, but her co-owner thinks it's her bloodlines that are mainly responsible (high-drive working line - Figo von der Wilden Nachtbarschaft daughter.)

Just an FYI... Giardia does not respond to normal courses of deworming.  Fenbendazole must be given for at least 5 and preferably 7 days and then repeated 2 weeks later.  Stubborn cases may need to be treated even longer term.  If not disinfected properly, the dog could reinfect itself in its living quarters or with bowls/toys.  Don't rule giardia out.  It is very common, difficult to diagnose, as it often does not show positive on tests even after repeated testing, and often stubborn and hard to get rid of.  I second Jenni's recommendation to treat for giardia with fenbendazole for 7 days followed by probiotics and digestive enzymes and another course of fenbendazole in 2 weeks.  It is the most probable cause of her symptoms and one you wouldn't need to go spend lots of money at the vet to take care of.

I give up. Thank you for "getting it" K9gsd78. 

SS, you're being kinda shady about her history- I'm not jumping to any conclusions. You already neglected to mention she just had a litter, then you condemned her previous owner for "letting" her whelp 14 puppies? What should she have done? If there were 14 puppies, there were 14 puppies, lol. How many should she have been allowed to whelp? Is there a specific number of pups that makes one a good or bad breeder per litter??? 

I don't give 1/2 a damn if she had 18 pups in a year or 6 months or 6 years- she deserves a vet trip if she needs one. If her current or former owners disagree or "don't have the money" then they shouldn't be breeding dogs. I don't have any money but somehow the dogs get what they need. It's not about having it or not; it's about prioritizing. And a dog who is producing puppies which are being sold damn well deserves it as much or even more so than a beloved pet. 

I've said what I would do and what I have done, successfully, many times. Take it or leave it. Just trying to be helpful. 

Jen:  everyone tends not to listen when distressed;  she'll get it. 

And one other thing to mention.... you need to request a specific test for giardia.  It is not included in a standard fecal exam for parasites.  But again, I wouldn't bother with testing for it considering that it often takes 3 or more tests before it comes up positive.  Just stressing that it sohuldn't be ruled out just because she had a fecal exam done.

STUPID COMPUTER!!! 

Ate my post, no time to redo it.

Jenni I totally get what you are saying. I know giardia can hide. But I'm not the only person involved here. The other owner went to our favourite pet food store today, and talked to a guy there who is a former vet tech. He is familair with GSDs and convinced her to try some mixed tocepherols/fatty acids as a supplement, and also an enzyme and probiotic supplement to aid digestion.

We will see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I will definitely recommend a course of panacur/fenbendazole.  Other owner is in the midst of moving, and is very stressed right now! She DOES care about the dog, though.