Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common gut infections found in puppies from pet shops and breeders
By Dupont, S et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2013·Department of Medicine and Clinical Biology of Small Animals·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Enteropathogens in pups from pet shops and breeding facilities.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of puppies from pet shops and breeding facilities, aged 6 to 16 weeks, were examined for signs of diarrhea and tested for various germs that could cause gastrointestinal issues. Out of 56 puppies, many tested positive for parasites like Toxocara canis and Giardia, as well as bacteria including E. coli, which can lead to serious health problems. Some puppies showed no symptoms, but the presence of these pathogens raises concerns about their health. This study highlights the risk of gastrointestinal diseases in puppies from these sources, suggesting that owners should be vigilant and consult their veterinarian if their new puppy shows any signs of illness.
People also search for: puppy diarrhea causes · Toxocara canis treatment · Giardia in puppies symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate faecal and clinical scores and presence of several enteropathogens possibly implicated in the development of diarrhoea in pups aged between 6 and 16 weeks independently of their health status. METHODS: Pups were selected from pet shops and breeding facilities and assigned a faecal and clinical score. Standard isolation methods were used to determine presence of parasites, viruses and bacteria in faecal samples. For Escherichia coli, virulence genes were assessed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Fifty-six pups were included in this study. Eighteen had no diarrhoea, 22 had no significant clinical signs related to gastroenteritis. Samples were positive for Toxocara canis (n=29), Giardia duodenalis (n=35), Cystoisospora (n=22), E. coli (n=47) and Clostridium perfringens (n=20). In four E. coli positive samples, genes were detected that correlate with pathogenicity in other animal species. A significant positive correlation between the presence of T. canis and faecal score was found. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Puppies obtained from a pet shop or breeding facility have a high risk of gastrointestinal disease. Furthermore, infectious agents may be present independently of faecal or clinical score. The identification of possible pathogenic E. coli strains suggests that their role in diarrhoea warrant further investigation.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23915246/