Help!

Dog Nerd

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#1
Help! we got a new puppy a week ago. He is two months old. We took him to the vet yesterday and he told us that the puppy has Distemper. Does anyone have any ideas that might help him to survive?

This is not a joke. I am very worried about my dog. Please help!
 
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HarleyD

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#2
Where'd you get him from that he hadn't already been given his shots to prevent distemper?
Did the vet not tell you anything about it?
 
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HarleyD

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#3
The time between infection and disease is 14 to 18 days, although there can be a fever from three to six days postinfection. So you're pup probably had it before you got him.
The dog should be treated by a veterinarian, usually with antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections, intravenous fluids, and nutritional supplements. The prognosis is poor.
The virus is destroyed in the environment by routine cleaning with disinfectants, detergents, or drying. It does not survive in the environment for more than a few hours at room temperature (20-25 °C), but can survive for a few weeks at temperatures slightly above freezing.

Young puppies between 3 and 6 months old are most susceptible to infection and disease and are more likely to die than infected adults.

Many diseases can cause symptoms resembling canine distemper and should be ruled out during diagnosis. Respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough and labored breathing) could be caused by bacterial pneumonia. Intestinal symptoms (e.g., vomiting and diarrhea) could be caused by gastroenteritis (an inflammatory bowel disease). Seizures and other neurological symptoms could be caused by toxoplasmosis (a protozoan infection) or epilepsy.


Treatment -
Since there's no cure for distemper, treatment is supportive.

Provide a clean, warm, draft-free environment.
Keep eyes and nose clear of discharge.
Give antiemetics (anti-nausea and anti-vomiting drugs) if there is vomiting.
Give antidiarrheals for diarrhea.
Monitor closely for dehydration. Dogs without an appetite that are experiencing vomiting and diarrhea may require intravenous rehydration therapy.
Antibiotics or bronchodilators are prescribed for pneumonia.
Anticonvulsants may partially control seizures. Many veterinarians prescribe them before seizures start.
Myoclonus is untreatable (and irreversible).
Puppies who recover but have hypoplasia (unenameled teeth that erode quickly) can have the enamel restored to prevent further tooth decay.
Glucocorticoid therapy can sometimes help blindness due to optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve). This may help in the short term, but glucocorticoids weaken the immune system and may make symptoms worse.

Prognosis depends on the strain of canine distemper virus and the dog's immune response. After the initial fever subsides, the disease can progress in a number of ways.

More than half of all dogs die between 2 weeks and 3 months after infection, usually from central nervous system complications. Most veterinarians recommend euthanasia for dogs that suffer progressive, severe neurological complications.

Dogs that appear to recover may develop chronic or fatal central nervous system problems. Dogs with mild symptoms (e.g., myoclonus) may recover, though the symptoms can persist for several months or longer. Dogs with a strong immune response may never show any signs of infection. Once a dog has fully recovered, it no longer sheds the virus and is not contagious
 

Dog Nerd

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#4
Puppy

I got him at a pet shop. I do think he had it when I got him. Our vet did tell us to keep him warm and to give him a tablespoon of warm milk every hour. He also gave us a pill to give him twice a day. I just wanted to know if there was any thing else i could do for him. Thank you for the Info HarleyD.
 

noludoru

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#6
Pedialite.. get the unflavored... if you're worried about hydration. DEFINITELY double-check with your vet first, though, but I've heard of a few instances where this has helped. :)
 

Herschel

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#7
You might want to call the Pet Store and let them know that their puppies have Distemper.

Either that, or call your local newspaper and get a lawyer. A lot of us would argue that it is animal cruelty to knowingly sell puppies that have Distemper.
 

Herschel

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#9
I got him at a pet shop. I do think he had it when I got him. Our vet did tell us to keep him warm and to give him a tablespoon of warm milk every hour. He also gave us a pill to give him twice a day. I just wanted to know if there was any thing else i could do for him. Thank you for the Info HarleyD.
Dog Nerd, where are you from?
 

Herschel

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#13
I am from Austin, Texas, but I have recently moved to Bandung, Indonesia. I will be living here for two years.
That explains a lot. Is there any chance that you could call a vet that would have been local to you in Austin? That is probably your best bet at getting reasonable veterinary advice.

Alternatively, could you go to a larger veterinary clinic in Bali? http://www.balivetclinic.com/
 
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HarleyD

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#14
dairy milk isn't going to help, it will end up hurting your pup more. If you are supposed to give milk, I would think they'd want you to give "mother's milk" (like when they are pups with mom).
Why did you buy from a pet store? THey are notorious for selling sick or unhealthy puppies.
 

Dog Nerd

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#16
Why did you buy from a pet store? THey are notorious for selling sick or unhealthy puppies.
I went to the pet store to buy something for my other dog and I saw the puppy there. He was so cute. I had to give a dog away so that I could move here to Indonesia and I wanted to get a replacement, so I bought the puppy.
 

ACooper

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#19
Any updates on the little one? How is he doing so far?

My brother in law took in a stray pup this last spring (two actually) that their dogs brought back home from the woods..........one of them had distempher. If my memory serves, the pup stayed at the Vet for 2 weeks or so before it was well enough to come home.

Please keep us updated on the progress, what worked, what didn't seem to.
 

MafiaPrincess

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#20
I had to give a dog away so that I could move here to Indonesia and I wanted to get a replacement, so I bought the puppy.
Should have found a way to bring your other dog with you.. Rather than buying a random new one from a skeazy source. That's pretty low.
 

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