HookWorm---

[Roxysmama]

My poor girlie is sick!!! She started this yeaterday. She starting throwing up and crying and just not acting right. We went to the vet yesterday and they said that she probably just got into something, she's only four months old! They didn't do an Xray. Sent me home with antibiotics and told me to keep her on a bland diet. So that's what I did! She was fine for hours and starving to death! I gave her about a cup of cottage cheese and rice mixture. She ate it right up. She was acting fine, playing and jumping like the boxer she is! About 4 hours later she threw it all up and was wiped out! This am I gave her about a 1/2 cup of rice, same thing she ate it all up. She even was chasing the broom, she eats like a slob!!! About 4 hours later she threw it all up. I called the vet and she gave me the results of the stool sample. She said they saw 1 hookworm on the microscope smear, but nothing on the float test. They didn't seem to be too concerned. Just treat the parasite just in case. So I went online and checked on hook warm and they say it's serious for puppies... Now I'm concerned.... Any one have any experience with this. Or am I over reacting!!!

[crazychopper]

they can be a problem if your baby has a large burden of them. treat the worms and see how she does. hookworms usually can be seen in vomit as well as stool. but what is important for you is that you treat her especially if you have children because they can be passed to people. it's more of a problem if you get them more than the dog

[Cami]

Why did they send you home with antibiotics? More and more this is becoming one of my bigger pet peeves. From your post it seems as if they didn't have the result of the stool sample (or any other test) prior to prescribing an antibiotic?

Isn't there a specific med for treating hookworm? Or is it an antibiotic (as prescribed) and the vet was correct in prescribing it and assuming that the ailment was indeed hookworm before the test showed anything?

I hope the vet also suggested that in addition to the antibiotic you offer a probiotic to be administered while receiving the antibiotic. Plain, natural non sweetened yogurt will be a good addition while your little one is having tummy troubles and taking an antibiotic.

I hope all is back to normal soon.

Susi & Cami

[Roxysmama]

They sent her home with antibiotic before they knew she had hookworm...
They gave me 1 dose of Ivermectin yesterday to treat the hookworm. I asked if I should stop the antibiotic but they said continue. She acts fine just can't keep anything down. They told me to wait until tomorrow(Thursday) and if she's still not eating we'll go from there. They only found 1 in her stool sample. Which I find weird.... You'd think that she'd have more.
I just feel so helpless and don't know what to do for her.
Thanks for the info.

[Cami]

I really don't know the symptoms of hookworm but I know that alot of antibiotics can cause an upset tummy. Personally, I would want an explanation as to why you should continue the antibiotic. Antibiotics are for treating infections, did they tell you what sort of infection that you are treating? Alot of times it is best to either remove food for a period of time (perhaps 12-24hours) or at the very least go with a bland diet in small amounts when dealing with tummy problems. The ivermectin can also cause upset stomach.

I know how hard it is having your baby sick and feeling helpless. Try boiling some chicken breast, offer her just a few small peices, then in a few hours if that stays down offer a few more. Don't over load her even if she acts as if she wants more. Baby steps. Make sure she is drinking enough and that is also staying down. You can even offer her some pedialyte (it comes in non-flavored), again, small amounts.

Hopefully she will be back to her old self soon! Good-Luck, keep us posted.

Susi & Cami

[crazychopper]

what kind of antibotiscs did they give you. If it was something like metronidazole(flagyl) it has antinflamatory effects as well, which will help calm the g.i. tract. also if she has hooks the antibotics will help prophalatically

[Roxysmama]

Hey,
We went Back to the Vet, she ate something and it's obstrucing her belly! I went to a differenct vet, and she was upset with her peer for misdiagosing her. She may have worms but this is a bigger issue. They took another stool sample and there was a piece of plastic in it. They did an xray and there is something in her belly. So she is getting operated on tomorrow morning and while they are in there they are going to spade her also. So thanks for all your well wishes....
Michele and Roxy

[Cami]

I am sorry to hear that you baby is going to have to have surgery, but thankful that the obstruction was caught.

Good-Luck and healing vibes!

[Roxysmama]

I just heard from the vet and she is out of surgery and recovering nicely.. I wasn't at my desk so I still don't know what the obstruction was! Thanks
for all the support.
Michele and Roxy!!!