Posted on 07/22/2013 2:29:33 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse
The wife and I just brought home a German Shepherd pup yesterday. He seemed "shy" but later I realized he was lethargic. He ate a bit but not like what you would expect from a two month old Shepherd.
We took him to the Vet today to have him checked out and he tested positive for Parvo. He hadn't started puking yet and they put him on IVs so with a little luck he should recover.
Our other dog is up to date on his shots and the cats are supposed to be immune. I went around and disinfected everything he touched. The vet said they have a 90% success rate so it looks good.
I contacted the family who sold us the pup. They called back and let me know the last one from the litter died.
Does anyone here have experience with Parvo?
That’s said. Dogs our are partners and friends. Best listeners.
I hope your puppy pulls through and your other dog is okay, as well. Please keep us posted!
We were informed that he hadn’t eaten much since Thursday (we picked him up Sunday). He ate a bit for us but not much. We already had an appointment set up for today for shots and check up.
The vet thinks he’ll be alright but it might take a day or two.
Treatment against Parvo requires maintaining homeostasis. This means treating against septicaemia, dehydration, shock, and any other manifestation that is presented by the rapid cellular death of the alimentary tract cells...from the mouth to the anus. The absolute worst manifestation is the protein losing enteropathy that requires whole blood transfusions, volume expanders and constant electrolyte monitoring. I hate this form because it is the most formidable. Our success rate is around 75%. Nothing makes me happier than to send a puppy home that has almost met the reaper with this disease and nothing is sadder and disheartening after I have worked so hard and still lose a puppy.
Vaccination is the key for some but not the whole answer to the equation. Some dogs still come down with Parvo after a series of vaccinations...the puppies just don't produce immunity. I wish your puppy well.
Just FYI, Parvo mutates from one species to another around every 40 years. Around 1900 it was Aleutian Mink Disease. In the 1930's it mutated into the Feline species, namely the disease Feline Panleukopenia or Feline Distemper. In 1978 at a Collie show in Mobile, Alabama, it mutated and spread worldwide in a matter of months into the canine population. We are overdue for the virus to mutate into another specie. It could be humans because of our close proximity to the domesticated Feline and Canine populations. Just food for thought.
Sounds cruel, but take him back where you got him. Get your money back.
My wife is already attached. We bought the dog from the family of one of my JROTC Cadets. We had bought the dog and left him with the family until after we got back from a cadet leadership camp. During the trip, I found out the kids mother was leaving her job to take care of her sister (cancer).
If they were actual breeders I’d demand that they pay for part of the vet bill but they haven’t got much and the litter wasn’t intended. This could have been avoided with a $20 Parvo vaccine.
If I could do it again, I would have either taken the dog and boarded it with our other pets or at least taken him to the vet for shots and brought him back.
That which does not kill us...
Listen to vetvetdoug. His advice saved my dog more than once and (sadly) he diagnosed my dog’s last illness on line, even when my local vet had a different (wrong) answer. I took him to another vet for a 2nd opinion and found that he had fatal pancreatic cancer. I’m still heartbroken. But vetvetdoug’s advice gave him a lot of comfort from his skin allergies in the spring and fall. And vetvetdoug was absolutly right with his diagnosis,just from my description on line.
Sue em first!! I hate puppy mills and irresponsible people who raise dogs for sale.
And he had a littermate that had died? What kind of people are these breeders?
I went through this years ago. The vet said to ensure the dogs bedding was washed with bleach to kill the virus in the home. Awful illness for the dog.
Thanks
God bless and keep you.
You are absolutely the very best and ever so kind.
Add that to the cost they paid - and that eqauals a rip-off.
Of course - if they’re already too emotionally attached - there is nothing they likely can do.
Yep and yep. I’m sure the family only charged to make sure the dog didn’t end up getting the “free dog treatment.” People who won’t pay for dogs usually don’t take decent care of them.
They cut the price for us and we gave them a little extra to keep him. What a deal...
It’s a virus. It usually doesn’t bother dogs over two years old. Once he recovers he should be immune for life.
We definitely worm our pets.
We had a Jack Russell puppy with parvo. I was told he got it because I took him out around the neighborhood before he had ALL his puppy shots. He was weak and lethargic and looked near death. After a big vet bill and drugs he recovered just fine.
We bought the dog from the family of one of my JROTC Cadets. We had bought the dog and left him with the family until after we got back from a cadet leadership camp.
They hadn’t planned on the puppies but they failed to keep two of their dogs separated...
Thanks for the encouraging story. We’re hoping for the best.
I might try that.
I’m sorry. My wife needed me to spend some time with her. This has really upset her.
Thanks.
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