3.5 month Puppy foaming at mouth with seizure type activity

by kim
(Piura, Peru)

ok this is the story... we live in peru s.a. and someone gave us this dog, she seems to be mixed chihuahua. We have had her for about 6 weeks.

She has been to the vet 3 x's. 1st visit was for a normal check-up and she received her parvo vac. and he dewormed her. The following week she seeemed to have high fever accompanied with loose bowels, so we went to the vet again. He said she had a stomach infec. in which he gave her another dose of de-worming, an antibiotic injection and 3 meds, one for fever, a stomach anti-bacterial, and a vitamin.

After several days her stools were normal(and no more worms), but still fever for approx 1.5 more weeks. Until, Monday Nov. 15. (During this time I took it upon mysself to give her 2ml of Amoxicillian bid) Well today, she woke up with seizure type activity and foaming at the mouth. So we brought her to the vet again and he said that it was possibly distemper or parasites. So he gave her another round of de-worming meds. Now... WE are waiting it out to see.

Also,this past Sunday she yet passed good quantity of more worms and still periodically passes them with each bowel movement.

Here are some more things she is doing: She has a ravenous appetite, no more fever, no depression or lethargy, and she does not want to be alone, she has a itchy spot on her tail that she chewed all the hair off, she also had some kind of ear infection in which I applied bactrim and it seems to be going away, she also does not seem to be drinking water...

Another thing which I think may be important is she seems to have the seizure type activity after we give her medicine or liquids.

It just seems like it's been one thing after another. We would love your input about her condition. We would be very sad to lose her... We are puzzled :/

Thank You!!!







Hi Kim
Wow, that's quite a list of problems for this poor little puppy, and I'm sure it's worrying, exhausting and expensive for you too!

She's a tiny breed, and fairly young, and hasn't had a good start in life, so it's not surprising that she's sickly and has worms and other problems. Also, although she obviously needs the medications to help her, they can also have side effects. Normally these are loose stools, vomiting, lethargy and so on. Seizures or other more serious side-effects are much more rare.

As she's still passing the worms she's not parasite-free yet, but it does sound as though overall she's on the mend. Unfortunately I'm not a veterinarian and I can't really recommend or suggest why she's having these seizures, or what you can do about them. Only a veterinarian can really help you with that.

You are doing everything you can for her and as long as she's getting a nutritious diet, plenty of fresh water, lots of rest, the right treatment and medications for any symptoms, it may just be that it's going to take time for her to make a full recovery.

Her little body has been through a lot and needs time to heal. Once the worms and other infections are under control and she's feeling stronger due to the rest and better diet, hopefully she wills turn the corner and begin to grow healthy and strong.

All I can really suggest is to keep doing what you're doing and if you have any worries or questions consult your vet. He/she is able to see and examine your pup and is in the best position to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

I wish you all lots of luck and hope that this little girl makes it through this difficult time.