Parvo

    • Bronze

    Parvo

    I just took my dog to the vet because he is sick.  Turns out he got parvo.  He is a 4 month old sheperd.   I'm really scared he is not going to make it.  We are treating the deydration and all that.    The big issue is our 2 other dogs.  there is no way we can keep them away.  Obviously if Bear had parvo, the area, including our house has it.

     

    Does anyoen have any clue as what i can do to help the situation?  Has anyone been there this?   Really anything said helps.   I'm just scared we will lose our dogs.

    • Gold Top Dog

    There has been lots of talk about parvo here on the boards - you may want to read through the archives.

    Typically, adult dogs are fine. You want to make sure you sanitize everything in your home with a bleach dilution - that is the ONLY cleaner that will kill the virus. Were your other dogs vaccinated with their distemper/parvo series when they were pups?

    Is your dog staying with the vet through the initial treatment? Or are you bringing him back and forth for treatments. 

    • Bronze

     i cant afford to  keep him there,  I really wish i could,  i feel like im putting a price on his life,  and he is priceless,  I simple just dont have the money.  Im taking him back daily for  IV's   got him on a anti nausia liquid,  an anitboitic, and feeding him pediolite(forcing him)

     

    one other dog is  15 months old   i cant find anything about parvo in her vaccination papers, but i dont have all of them,  gonna have the vet double check tommarrow,  and hopefully get her a booster just to be safe

     

    Hank is 5 months old,  he has had 1 parvo shot,  but is overdue for the other,  I didnt know if he had it when the vet asked today,  so ill let the vet know, and see if she wants to booster, or wait and see if he already has parvo.

     

    We got bleach and are cleaning all the hard floors, bowls, kennels,   but the carpet we can't put bleach on.   The back yard will be tough,   gonna hit that tommarrow  win the dailght hits,  gonna clean up all ***, and  hti it with bleach.

     

    I just really hope Bear pulls threw.   I'm praying like crazy for  him.    And i feel like such an ass.  He didnt get his vaccinations done on time do to finances.  then when we got our finances fixed, we had scheduling problems.  This is all my fault, i didnt take vaccinations seriously.  Now do to my laziness my dog my die.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I have two parvo survivors. 

    If your other dogs are older, & vaccinated, then there is a pretty good chance that they won't be affected.  To clean & disinfect, you can use bleach, & water.  When I worked in a vet clinic, we mixed it 2 parts bleach to 8 parts water.  You can use it to clean all of your hard surfaces, food/water bowls.  I would bleach all bedding & shared toys as well.

    If your puppy isn't making progress, you may look into having a blood transfusion performed.  The thought is that if you use blood from a parvo survivor, the antibodies in their blood will help the puppy fight off the virus.  One of my dogs was in bad enough shape that he had two transfusions while he was hospitalized.  The other one had a transfusion as well.

    • Gold Top Dog

    We are sending get well wishes to Bear!!

    • Gold Top Dog
    Has he ever been vaccinated for parvo? I ask because some companies have a warranty on their product and if he had been vaccinated by a vet they would pay from some of his treatment. You may not have done it on time but there may be a chance they might cover part, ask the vet to contact the company and find out the details. The clinic I worked at had a similar case and most of the bill was covered.

    I've had to treat many parvo puppies during my time as a vet tech and I know how hard and draining on your pocket book this can be. Since your other dogs are still puppies I can see why you are so concerned. Keeping bear isolated would be very a good idea. Even having a shoes bath with dilute bleach on a towel could help some so you don't walk it around. The disease isn't was kills a puppy, it's the dehydration that can do it as you probably know. Fluids are very important, if you have to take him home just make sure he's getting all the fluids the vet recommends. It sounds like the vet has you set on a good program for what you can afford but it's always so hard to predict what's going to happen in these cases. I know it's hard to put a price things like this but just know that in your heart your doing what is best. I wish you and Bear good vibes as he continues his fight.
    • Gold Top Dog

    BEVOLASVEGAS
    If your puppy isn't making progress, you may look into having a blood transfusion performed.  The thought is that if you use blood from a parvo survivor, the antibodies in their blood will help the puppy fight off the virus.

    This is becoming a pretty common treatment -- Alabama is doing this a lot as are some of the other vet schools.  Pretty cutting edge stuff.

    How old was the other pup when he was vax'd -- the whole purpose for "boosters" is pretty much that if the first shot didn't "take" (often because the pup was too young and maternal antibodies prevented efficiency/efficacy of the shot) the booster will catch it.  But if the first pup was old enough and has had like 3 weeks at least between the shot and exposure then you've got a darned good chance that he won't get it.

    Just plain old love and care, good food -- and even doses a couple of times a day of an anti-viral herb like St. John's Wort and an immune-boosting herb like echinacea can help turn the tide.  Parvo is a virus -- that's why medicines tend not to help.  Keep him hydrated, offer little bits of food very very often (a big bowl of food is off-putting but even some chicken soup in a kids baby syringe can get some nutrition in them.

    If you've never used herbs before use the contact button across from my name and *email* me -- I'll help you.  The herbs won't hurt and can sometimes help turn the tide.  Care and love -- it's so important.  *Will* him to get better. 

     

    • Bronze

     well its been 2 days sense i posted,   so we are on  day  3-4 of him having this.   I've just been keeping him  full of fluids.  He hasn't been vomiting so I started giving him some chicken brooth for protein.    My vet said  we are doing a great job with  hydration so there is no need to bring him in for and iv push.

     This morning i woke up (ive been sleeping with him,  sense he isnt used to being alone)  And he was sitting at the bedroom door,   i went to the back door to let him out to potty,  and he ran full speed threw the house to the back door.  He urinated for a good minute.  Then fought with me not to go back in the bedroom. (I had to get our oldest dog to come int he bedroom to get him in here)   I feel very positive with his newly found strength.

     

    Thanks for all your great wishish,  and your tips.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Good for you !! 

    • Gold Top Dog

    So glad to hear it - keep up the good work!

    continued good thoughts for your pup!