DOG SHOW CRUD TREATMENT:
AKA: Bacterial Overgrowth
It will sometimes test low positive for parvovirus. It is NOT a new form of Parvo although symptoms are quite similar to parvo. Crud dogs do not have a high temperature.
nyone of the normal bacteria found in the digestive tract will go into overgrowth. The mystery is what triggers it. Possibly infected urine/feces or something brought in on shoes or clothing or from a visiting dog. We know what cures it and what to do when a dog hasn't been treated quick enough. And of course we know the end results with a dog that dies of it.
Symptoms start 12-48 hours after intiial contact (usually) and may spread to other dogs rapidly. The dogs are alert, hungry, energetic. Normal feces starts with mucus-, continues to get progressively softer until becomes explosive diarrhea. Vomiting may or may not accompany. Feces have a sweet/flowery aroma along with a "slaughterhouse-on-a-summer-day" smell. Feces are "usually" mustard colored then become bloody. Dogs dehydrate at an oustanding rate.
The younger or weaker the dog, the worse it is. Some dogs may never get it, even tho they may be kenneled with an affected 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 dogs should get CNE capsule).
TREATMENT:
250 MG Cephalexin per 25 lbs of body weight (FIRST DOSE) (pups may get Cephalexin drops) This MUST be given orally not IV - it MUST go thru the digestive tract. If the dog vomits the pill up give it again until it stays down.
Give another dose 8-12 hrs later (SECOND DOSE)
If dog returns to normal - DO NOT MEDICATE AGAIN
DO NOT use an IV drip. Their circulatory systems will be very depressed. "IF" a vein can be found, it may not be able to support an IV. Use Lactated Ringers Solution SUB Q and force electrolytes orally (Pediatlyte)
I have to stress not to continue the drug after the dogs stop the diarrhea. The important thing is to treat them ONLY until the symptoms stop. Also, sometimes affected dogs are not able to handle IV support because of circulatory collapse from massive dehydration. What a quandry since IV is the fastest way to rehydrate. So giving fluids under the skin is best * ONLY give until the drugs starts to work. Afterwards IV is fine. Since the drug works so quickly, this is not too much of an issue. The whole point is to keep them "going" until the drug has time to work - usually a few short hours.
IV rehydration HAS thrown animals into deep shock. Some dogs hav had a complete shutdown of renal system, leakage of intestinal fluids into various organs, circulatory and intestinal ruptures, etc. Not sure this was directly related to bein IV'd but in every instance this has occured directly after IV support was started. Not the case when there was no IV support.
Also, DO NOT flea-dip, worm or vaccinate at this time..PLEASE!
Do NOT automatically assume PARVO when you see this. This is NOT parvo, as it is a bacterial overgrowth in the digestive tract. Do NOT use Amoxycillin. Dogs should show improvement within a few hours of treatment using the correct drug. If you have any questions, email me at angelwing42@netins.net with the subject "CRUD".