Parvo

[chadandcristi]

Hi, My name is Chad Cline and my 15 week old doberman has parvo. We noticed he was getting skinnier thursday and friday. Then saturday he threw up. We thought he just ate something in the woods since we were outside the whole weekend. We deicided sunday to give him the shot we bought from tractor supply a couple of days ago. I think it was called spectra 7. He had his first shots at around 5 weeks and hasn't had any since. He was still eating on sunday. Then monday,(today), he wouldnt eat when i got back from class. So i rushed him to the vet and they started treatment. They said they have to keep him for at least 3 or 4 days. We were also told that it was a bad idea to give him the 7 in 1 shot. Are my dogs chances slim? He only threw up the one time and there was no blood in his feces before we went to the vet. So maybe it isn't that bad yet?

 

[MaddoxDobes]

I recommend you get your puppy to a Vet ASAP

 

[chadandcristi]

he is already at the vet. I took him right after i realized he wouldn't eat.

 

[MaddoxDobes]

Hmmm, yea I don't think the 7 way was a good idea. What did the vet say?

 

[Panama]

I've never have to deal with Parvo, but then again, have always made sure all my dogs were vaccinated, and they don't leave our property until they've had at least 3 rounds of shots.

Incubation for Parvo ranges from 4-10 days (typically). If your dog has been exposed to other dogs within the last 2 wks, let the other owners know as well.

I hope your boy pulls through this. Let us know how he's doing.

 

[linx_linx]

you have a 80% chance well thats what my vet gave me and it worked out my little guy is alive today THANK GOD. have faith there chances with parvo are so much better then before from what i have heard. looks like you caught it early like i did so you cold get lucky.
i know what helped save my pups life was when i was giving him pepto it helped slow the parvo down that what the vet said.

 

[MLR]

Sorry to hear about your boy. This is just my opinion but, your finding out the hard way why it's better to let vets handle immunizations and why they should be given on a strict schedule. Panama gave good advice; notify any other dog owners you've come in contact with. Sorry Chad but you've got to weigh the cost of your dobe vs. wanting to save money on his shots. There, lecture done.

Welcome to the forum. Hope everything turns out in your favor. You did the right thing by getting your puppy in to the vet as fast as you did.

 

[Silent]

Sorry to hear about your pup. How long have you had him? Parvo is highly contagious so please warn anyone who has dogs who has been around your pup, they can carry it home on shoes even if their dog never visited you. Once he recovers he will still be contagious to other dogs and it will also be in the enviroment for a long time. Please ask your vet about the time frames. Good luck!

 

[apbtmom76]

I have pulled many apup through Parvo and lost several due to the same thing. I hope your pup is ok and just like someone else posted, you should always make sure that your pup is vaccinated before it goes anywhere. I give all of my dogs their own shots that I get from the feedstore, did you check the date on it?? Please keep us posted on how the pup is doing.

 

[deladobies]

I've always given my pups their shots... The only one I ever have to go in for is Rabies... Why did your vet say the 7 in one was a bad Idea??? Not sure why it would be!

Hope all is well with your pup

 

[Silent]

Any shot when a pup is already sick or has a fever is a bad idea. It challenges the immunity which isn't a good thing with a dog/pup whos immune system is already battleing something.

 

[DobesMom]

Any shot when a pup is already sick or has a fever is a bad idea. It challenges the immunity which isn't a good thing with a dog/pup whos immune system is already battleing something.

Exactly! But what's done is done...your puppy shouldn't go outside or get ANY more shots until he/she has fully recovered.


I have recently (Sept/Oct '08) had 2 Doberman puppies with parvo pull through. They came down with it at 12 weeks. I got them into the hospital & they stayed there getting treatment. I thought it was 7 days each, but I just went back & looked over their records. Hope was hospitalized for 7 days, came home on day 8. Fire was hospitalized for 6 days, came home on day 7. I returned her the following morning for dehydration & she was rehospialized for 4 more days. They were both wormed at the time of treatment due to a heavy worm load. Fire got sicker because she was a runt...and also ate poo when she came to us, so she ate Hope's poo (infected).
I had just gotten them the day before & had no idea she did that!(Gross).
They got IVs, antivomiting drugs, anti diarreah meds, antibiotics & antacids.
They each had one day much worse than any other...where the vet asked us about considering our options (PTS), but said "give them one more day". In each case...that 'one additional day' was what they needed. The turning point.

I sure hope your baby pulls through. I's going to be expensive...but the love & companionship are worth it...and by getting your dog you promised to keep them & take care of them. I can see you are taking it seriously...thank goodness you took the pup in to the vet right away. It means so much to act fast, parvo certainly does!!

OH!
When your pup comes home keep it warm in the house, no going outside till he/she is fully vaccinated. Any other dogs near your property are now in danger of getting parvo. It's a real B!$%# to get rid of (bleach, bleach, bleach...repeatedly. EVERYTHING). No new puppies should be introduced to the area for at least 6 months, if not longer (na d that's of you've bleached like mad). You carry parvo on your shoes/car tires...so be sure to let anyone where you've been recently with a dog know about this, just in cae.
BTW- A Dobe pup should be watched closely.They get into everything....eat anything. They are smart & get bored...which can cause trouble. Plus, they'd rather get to come inside sometmes & spend time with YOU. After all, taking care of heir owners is what they were bred for.

I'll be thinking good thoughts & sending them your way.
GOOD LUCK!! Keep us posted!!

 

[DobesMom]

Also- We used a fertilizer sprayer to bleach our yard, turned the topsoil, bleached again, repeated 4x. Same with the cement bleach & detergent 4x using a broom to scrub. I also did the entire house. Parvo cleanup is equivalent to a Level 3 Biohazard...so , realistically, we can try our best but will not be able to elminate it. I am a germaphobe, so I think I managed to do a decent job...but it was very labor intensive & took days at a time & I repeatedly did it. Nothing I wore durring clean up was aloowed in the house. I showered, then bleached the shower before stepping out of it, including my feet (rinse ASAP). See? I was SERIOUS about getting it knocked down as much as possible!! I can't imagine trying to do a farm/land lot!!!

 

[chadandcristi]

Thank all of you for your kind words. I checked on Lucean this morning at 7 and they said he made it through the night and is still fighting. I am to check back around 2 to talk to the actual vet who diagnosed him and talked to me about treatment. This is so so so stupid on my part. I wasn't aware that a puppy needs so many shots. He had his first shots so i assumed he was good and didnt need them again for a while. Which is why we had the spectra 7 in the fridge, we were planning on giving him the shot this weekend, which was too late. I am a broke college student and was trying to save a buck by doing the shots myself. Now, by trying to save 50 bucks, there is a serious chance that i will lose my best friend. And even if he doesn't make it, i will have a vet bill ranging from 500-1500 dollars. Someone should make a documentary about my dumb mistakes and show it to every new puppy owner before they purchase pups. Lucean was by far the sweetest and coolest dog to ever enter my life. I wouldn't trade him for any other dog in the world. I bought him to protect me and my future family, and i didn't do my part to protect him. I am the perfect example of the problems that come with uneducated pet owners...

 

[MLR]

I didn't mean to beat you when you were down either. This is how we all learn; by living. You know now, that's what's important. I'm pulling for you. Like everyone's already said; they can do miricles now with parvo. Keep us posted please.

 

[Silent]

You are not the first or the last who has made the same mistake. Your pups breeder should have made sure you knew what was needed and when. Your vet would also usually set a vaccine schedule on the first visit. I doubt you have much breeder support since you said the pup was given one shot at 5 wks which is too young for any shot to be given. Vaccines should be given every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks. The reason being the inherited mothers immunity interferes with pups developing their own. By 16 wks their immune system is mature enough to build its own immunity. It can vary as to how much immunity the mother gives pups and how long it lasts. Vaccines are repeated to cover the gap between mothers immunity and when their immune system is mature enough to develop their own. Vaccines given 2 weeks apart have been shown to supress the immune system instead of stimulate it.

http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/canine_parvo/parvo_brochure.asp

http://www.avma.org/animal_health/canine_parvovirus_faq.asp

 

[DobesMom]

Don't feel bad...NO ONE is perfect & does the absolutely correct thing in every
single instance!
I recently lost my puppy I was closest to. I still wake up every morning hoping it was some errible nightmare. But, sadly, it wasn't & all the vet care in the world couldn't save her.
I hope your guy has a happier ending. I think he'll have a damn good , & very contientious, owner if he does.
I know how hard it is financially...but do whatever you can. I had to max out 3 credit cards for my dog's hospital stays. I am paying them off by selling things on ebay, & at garage sales, etc.
It's slow going , but they are worth every penny spent. Perhaps family& friends can help? $5-$20 each would add up if you have a large family...you could mow their lawns, do dishes, wash windows, etc. for the money.
I also gave up extras like fancy shampoos, perfume, make up, new clothes & shoes I didn't really need, & car repairs I had saved for. I am walking or borrowing cars to grocery shop. My daughter walks home from school instead of getting a ride. It's amazing how you can find little ways to cut back...and then the money goes to the vet or savings to pay back the bill.

 

[chadandcristi]

GOOD NEWS!!! The vet that i talked to yesterday and that explained everything to me called! And i'm gonna be honest...when i saw that number calling my heart sank. She didn't say she would call me, i was supposed to call her at 2. Well at 1:30 she said she just wanted to let me know everything is headed in the right direction. He is now hydrated thanks to the IV. and No throw ups today and No diarrhea! He is more lethargic today than yesterday but she said that was right on track and that he has to get worse before he gets better. She said she would let me know his status at the end of the day and if anything changes in between now and then she will call! They are very very nice at this place. Acreview pet hospital in Edmond, Oklahoma is the name and location. They have been extremely helpful and nice! Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers! I will keep everyone posted!

 

[apbtmom76]

HOORAY, good news. I am so very happy to hear this. Hugs to your guy from the APBT pack and I.

 

[Silent]

Great to hear your pup is doing better!