Sick puppy.

[Annamal]

My dog hasn't been feeling well for the past 3 days, and although I have looked up and researched everything I could think of, and symptoms, a lot of things I find have her symptoms at some point. So I'm still not sure what to think.

She has a vet. appointment later on today, and I'm just trying to think of what it could be.

-She has thrown up about 6 times(that I know of) in 3 days.
-Does nothing but sleep, but has been active when excited a few times.
-Doesn't respond to you half the time, and ignores things like a door knock or the sound of a toy.
-Has only eaten 1 and 1/2 - 2 small bowls of food in 3 days.

She is about 11 months old, and was spayed January 18th, but I don't think that would have anything to do with it.

Any ideas or similar cases?
Thanks.

 

[Barb04]

At this point, the vet is your best solution. When a dog is feeling sick like this, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Let us know what happens at the vet.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

I agree--hope she feels better soon!

 

[*Amy*]

Poor girl. I hope she's okay! Let us know when you find out.

 

[Annamal]

We took her to the vet, and it turns out that she has parvovirus. The vet said it isn't bad though, and that I shouldn't worry about my other dog getting sick because she is older.
They are going to keep her there for 3-5 days.

Now that I know what it is, I have been online for the past hour looking up information on it.
It's kind of scary. Everything I read makes it sound really bad. I've read there is no cure, and that once they are better the can catch it again-being fine one day, then sick the next.
Now I'm going to be worried eveytime she doesn't seem herself.

I have already cleaned averything she has been around, and I bleached and washed she dishes.

Have any of you had a dog with parvo?
Although it didn't help the first time, should another parvo vaccination keep her from getting it again?
Any advice would be great.

 

[*Amy*]

Aw, that's no good. I hope she gets better soon and doesn't get it again in the future.

 

[nancy2394]

my cousin is an irresponsible pet owner and let her 9 year old doberman get pregnant. The pregnancy was rough enough on her and the delivery was worse. She had 3 pups that survived. Two of them got parvo and I guess they had found a home for the other one before it got sick. One of the pups died and I convinced them to take the other one to the vet before it too would die. I got the vet to give me the iv fluids and the daily antibiotic shots the pup had to get for a week or so. She pulled through and is now 4 years old and doing fine. I think if you catch it early enough and get treatment... they can survive. It's good that you took the necessary steps in cleansing anywhere she's been. Have you also cleaned outdoors where she had access to? I hope she gets to feeling better soon.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

How much older is your other dog? If he/she is senior age, then you'd bet I'd be worried about it as well.

Parvo is not something to scoff at. I don't know why your vet seemed so nonchalant about it. There is no cure, the dogs either make it or they don't with supportive care.

Buddy spent a week in ICU as a pup... we had no idea if he was going to make it and even when he came home the first 48 hours were crucial as he wasn't "out of the woods yet".

Every day until she comes home, clean your house with bleach- anything and everything, the backyard, kitchen floors, etc. etc.. Replace her bedding, dishes, collars, leashes, etc..

Your vet won't- or shouldn't, I would think- allow you to vaccinate her so close to her being sick. I would wait at least 30 days and have a titer done, she may need the vaccine, she may not.

I read that the likelihood of dogs getting it again is not at all prominent, but I'm sure it can happen. There are certain breeds that are more likely to get it, though the mortality rate for it is high in all breeds, pups and geriatrics.

I wish you and your pup the best of luck. Parvo is really hard to go through. Please keep us aware of how she is doing.

Here is a link to some info from a Chazzer who had a litter that came down with it.. she ended up ripping up her carpet and replacing much of everything, if I recall correctly. http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28783

 

[Storee's Mom]

www.ambertech.com/ has a product called Parvaid, which I know a lot of people swear by. There's also information on their site on what you can do yourself to help your dog.

Personally I wouldn't vaccinate with the parvo virus again, she's already been exposed and her immune system is fighting it - so why introduce the virus to her system? I'd titer test in a year or more to see for sure, and watch it. You should never vaccinate a sick or stressed dog.

Lana

 

[Annamal]

I called the vet this morning, and things are already looking better.
They said she is being more active, and wanting to play with some people.
They also said, which surprised me, that in 5 months, the majority of their parvo cases were beagles...I thought it was more common in larger dogs. They said a lot of those dogs where out in different places a lot, because they're hunting dogs.

And about cleaning the yard...right now we have close to 3 inches of snow now, and I live in the country with a lot of yard. So cleaning up after them is difficult. The winter weather won't kill the virus though, unfortunately, I've read that it can live in freezing or very hot temperatures.
Plus our neighbors-who don't really live very close to us- have 5 dogs that may as well be called strays, and they are in our yard a lot, especially at night. So that only makes it harder to clean. I think that she may have gotten it from those dogs.

Anyway, Buddy'sParents:
My other dog is about 3, so she is between the puppy and senior worries for parvo, but I have still been keeping an eye on her.
Other than looking for her sister a lot, she seems normal.

 

[bubbatd]

Please warn your neighbors about the parvo ................

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Yes. ^

And tell them to keep their own dogs in their own yard. I really suggest the bleach cleaning regardless of the weather conditions.

 

[nancy2394]

i agree with the bleach. It will kill the parvo and hopefully prevent your pup or any other dog from getting it from your house or yard. It is usually so rough on the poor dog to have to go through parvo. Their vomiting and stools are terrible and they must feel terrible. Glad to hear she's doing a little better.. that's hopeful that maybe they did catch it in time. Hopefully she'll be out of the woods soon. Best wishes.

 

[bubbatd]

Please keep us up on the progress ! Poor pup !

 

[Annamal]

Good news.
After 4 days in the hospital, I got my pup back.
She is fine now, and is back to her normal self.

The vet said that since she was vaccinated for parvo before, that she didn't have it very bad...at least not as bad as she could have had it.

She was really excited to come home, and is doing great.

 

[bubbatd]

Sooooo happy for you !!!!!

 

[elegy]

i'm glad she's feeling better and she's home! parvo is a scary disease.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Glad it all worked out.

 

[*Amy*]

It's good to hear she's back home and doing well. I bet you're so happy to have her back.