I just adopted a lab mix puppy (about 10-12wks. Old) from our local animal control on Fri. 1/28/06. As soon as we got him we took him down to the vet and he received his vaccinations and deworming. On Friday night he had diaharrea which we thought was due to the deworming. By Sunday he just wanted to lay around and wasn't eating or drinking. I got him to drink milk and then some water and was starting to assume he was younger than what they estimated his age at. He seemed to be doing better, but then when I got home from work on Monday afternoon I knew something wasn't right. My husband said he hadn't ate or drank at all, he had diaharrea all weekend (it did turn solid Monday morning) and now he was vomiting. I took him to the vet, they tested him and said it is parvo. He has been at the vet's since. I called again this morning and they said he is doing the same and depressed. By the time I had taken him in he didn't even want to stand or walk and had lost one pound (he was 9lbs. Friday). What are his chances of pulling through this? I know they say about 80% survive but I would think he would be showing signs of improvement by now. Will he be healthy and fine in the future if he makes it through or will he be weak and sickly? mjsalinas

Parvo is a horrible, nasty disease quickly killing many young puppies. Being viral, there is little vets can do except support the body, usually with IV fluids. The only good news is that if it survives, it should be fine once fully recovered. I am not sure if that 80% survival is based on such a young puppy. The more dog, the better chances of survival. Some adults survive without treatment. Even the best shot program leaves windows where a puppy can catch it. I hope he makes it.

It sounds like you have done some research. This is a good link if you need it, http://www.pressenter.com/~dvmvis/canparvo.htm

Please post back with updates.

My last puppy had it, we left him at the vet to get IV's and treatment, and he pulled though fine, and has been very healthy.

Now the odds are not good in living though it, and it is costly for the vet to get them over it, if they do.

Here is an update;

Called the vet Thursday morning, they said they hadn't given him anything to eat yet (on Tuesday night they had said they had, he's sibling has been there being treated for same thing, they look identical. Sibling was hospitalized an hour after our pup.) They also said he was having respiratory problems on Wednesday but he was resting better. I'm going to stop at the vet's today and check on him because I can't seem to get any actual answers on how he is actual doing and when they said they would call if there were changes one way or the other they never did when he had respiratory problems.

I now respiratory problems (from research) are not a normal part of the parvovirus, but they would come from a secondary infection which can occur due to the paravirus affecting the white blood cell count and causing him to not fight other infections. We'll see if anyone has time to talk to me today.

mjsalinas

Good to hear from you. If he has survived the parvo this long, it greatly improves the odds he will make it. I hope the secondary infections don't get him.

With the litter mate having it too, sounds like they may have come from the shelter with it. Very tough to prevent infections. Many a healthy puppy is sent home, and almost immediately catches it. The dog guide school has cautioned puppy raisers not to use dog relieve areas at rest stops on their way home with new puppies. One sniff of where a sick dog relieved itself in the last 6 months, is all it takes. Our friends had a couple of puppies come down with parvo after a trip. One made it, but not the other.

Oh, it's so nervewracking. I really hope your puppy is okay. Parvo is so scary. If it makes you feel any better, I have a friend who got a dachsund puppy who got parvo, and her little dog survived. It sounds like your puppy is a fighter since it's lasted this long. I wish the best! And I hope the vet can tell you something about it soon.

-B

Update:

I talked to the tech and teddy (my puppy) is not doing will. Teddy is still is having respiratory problems, vomiting, and diahareaa. Each day they keep trying to give him food and he throws it back up. The diahareaa has slowed down though. His sibling had already been released because he improved greatly fast but the tech told me that the sibling had come back this morning having respiratory issues. So the sibling is readmitted again and it looks like both puppies are battling two different things.

At this point I'm getting scared teddy isn't going to make it. How long can a puppy go on losing his strength and battling one illness that keeps him sick and another that has caused respiratory problems since Wednesday? I am so angry at whatever household dropped the litter off at animal control last Thursday. They obviously have some serious issues in taking care of that mama. But at least they were owner surrendered so we could adopt teddy first thing last Friday morning. If it wasn't for that there would be no guarantee that he would be at the vet's getting the care he needs.

mjsalinas

With most shelters forced to slaughter healthy animals, most quickly dispose of sickly ones or behavior problems. If you look back through those forum, you will find I consistently discourage breeding and encourage adoption. I am very grateful to people like you that adopt puppies. I hate to see you put through a wringer for your kindness. I freely give of my time, sharing my experience and training, especially to help those that adopt. In this case, the best advice comes from your vet. Most puppies either die quickly, or recover.

I try to give soft answers to those irresponsible people like you describe. Telling them what they need to hear is neither acceptable here or effective.

Please continue your updates.

I did not answer because, the answer you received where correct and I had nothing important to add, but I would like to wish you all the best and I will keep you in my thought in the days to come. I am sorry for what you are dealing with at the time, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for adopting, again I do with you all the best.

Update:

We called the vet Monday to see how teddy was doing and teddy didn't make it. The vet lost both our puppy and teddy's sibling that was adopted by another family. Between the parvo and the respiratory virus it was too much for both puppies.

I decided we are going to find an adult dog to adopt.

mjsalinas

This was not what I hoped it would be. Everybody here will be sad to hear Teddy didn't make it. I have been actively answering questions here and several other places for 5 years. I see too many stories like yours. Even the best shot schedule, leaves windows a puppy can catch parvo, and too many of the littler ones don't make it. As I said, it is a horrible, nasty disease, breaking the hearts of those wanting a puppy to love.

You will have no trouble finding a nice adult needing a home. Come back for help with once you have one.

Consider the animal shelter. There are many nice dogs, and you can see how
They look with little or no grooming. You can also see how they behave. Look
For dogs that want your attention, but are not going wild. Leave the ones that
Retreat to the back of their cage. Look at their teeth. Look for ones that
Still show a 3 lobed, clove like pattern on the front ones. Leave the ones
That fight letting you look at their teeth too much. If the points are worn
Off the teeth, it is an older dog that may break your heart by dying too soon.
Pinch the web between its toes. It hurts. It is OK for the dog to pull away
Or whine, but it shouldn't growl, snap or show its teeth. Since the shelter likely will kill most of the dogs, you may as well pick out a nice one.

I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy. It's so sad. It's funny how much animals really become a part of our families and such a big part of our lives. I wish you the best luck in finding a new dog for your family.

We picked up the puppy to bury him and my husband talked to the vet. It seems our puppy and his sibling never had a chance. The vet said it wasn't just a respiratory virus, the puppy had parvo and distemper both. Our local animal control had to shut down to clean and wouldn't allow any dogs in and any dogs out. With two of the puppies gone it really makes me wonder how the other two that are out there are doing.

mjsalinas

I was poking about the net last night looking for a replacement for the parvo link I have used for years. I found this. http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~bjmcmil/parvu1.html

''If you are adopting a puppy from L.A. Animal Services, the veterinary staff can test the animal for a fee of $15 and provide results in 15 minutes. The test results can help you make a better-informed decision about adoption. Anegative result indicates the virus is not likely present; a positive result indicates the animal is infected. (If you adopt a puppy that tests positive, immediately take it to a private veterinarian for follow-up testing and treatment.)''

Think of the heartbreak it could save if such a procedure was wide spread. Of course much of the parvo is caught after the puppy goes home, or even on the way home. The dog guide school has warned us never to allow the puppy in the dog relief areas at the interstate rest areas. One dog with parvo in the last 6 months is all it takes.

Good web sites are hard to find, and time consuming to evaluate. There is a lot of junk out there. I decided to trust the AVMA, http://www.avma.org/communications/b...o_brochure.asp
They have Spanish language versions too.

Note, before bringing another dog into the house, wash down any area he may have contaminated with bleach.

Again, I am very sad about the whole thing.