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Expert: - 2/20/2011


Question
I'm in the military at Fort Bragg and my wife and I just bought a Lab mixed puppy at 6 weeks old. Not sure what he is mixed with but thinking chow. When we got him he got diarrhea and vomiting. We took him to an urgent care to find out he had hookworms. He got treated and is doing better. Its been about a week since the first treatment. He now has a reddish tint to his poop. Its slightly runny. My wife thinks its blood in his poop. He sleeps ALL the time. Other than that he plays, eats, and drinks normal. He got a parvo shot and isn't vomiting anymore. The vet tested him for it and it came back negative. Is a little blood normal and the sleeping due to the worms or is something else maybe going on? Thanks!

Answer
Dear Andrew,
You mentioned that my answer was not clear, so I wanted to attempt to clarify.
1. 6 weeks is a very young puppy and therefore you may have many problems to deal with. The more holistic approaches you can use will help get him over this initial challenge.
2. Hookworms can certainly cause diarrhea and vomiting, and since he improved with treatment for the worms and the Parvo test was negative, that was most likely the cause, though general immune problems could cause the continuing runny stool.
3. The reddish tint to the stool is not normal. It could be that he needs his second worm treatment. It could indicate that he has deeper problems or other parasites. some foods can also give a reddish tint to the stool. The runniness is not normal. I would suggest trying some of the diarrhea treatments listed in your first email.
4. The sleeping is normal for a puppy as long as he is super active when awake. Every dog is different, just as children are, so there is no "normal" number of hours for a puppy to sleep. His young age will have him sleeping more than older puppies, just as infants sleep more than toddlers.

Hope this clarifies things for you,
Dr. Chambreau

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Dr. Christina Chambreau

Expertise

I can give you the holistic approach to any problem in any species, though mostly I work with dogs and cats. Depending on the condition and the type of animal, I will be able to give very specific treatment suggestions such as what flower essences, homeopathic remedies, nutritional supplements, diet changes, lifestyle changes or herbs that may be helpful - not drugs. I can also suggest where you can go for further education or to find a specialist in a specific holistic field. I can help you understand why your animal is ill and what improvements can be expected. I do not check messages more than every one to two days, so PLEASE DO NOT ask about EMERGENCIES - call your local veterinarian. I cannot diagnose your animal. I cannot prescribe specific treatments. I am no longer very current with conventional treatments, so cannot answer questions on those. I am not an expert on birds or small critters. I will give you helpful connections about hose species.

Experience

I graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980 and began using homeopathy in my practice after a client introduced me to it. By 1988 I was using exclusively holistic treatments. I began lecturing in 1987 and have spoken at veterinary conferences, health food stores, people's homes, churches, veterinary college conferences - anywhere people want to learn more about keeping their animals healthy.

Organizations
Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (I helped found this one) American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association National Center for Homeopathy American Veterinary Medical Association

Publications
I have written in many magazines, journals and newspapers. A few include Bark Magazine; Journal of the AHVMA; Baltimore Dog Magazine; Whole Dog Journal; Tiger Tribe; Wolf Clan. I have also been frequently interveiwed on radio and TV.

Education/Credentials
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Certified Veterinary Homeopath (CVH)

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