Pet Problems (Parvo)

[Stratosfied]

Hello Everyone, On Fri. the 9th, I went down a dirt road and found two puppies. This was a very deserted area. The puppies were very hungry looking. I brought them home and they were very active. On Sun., one of them started acting real sluggish and didn't eat. I fiqured that it was the food. Well he started throwing up and not doing good at all. We took him to the vet on Tues. He said that he had Parvo Virus and he would do all that he could to save him. He kept him and put the IV and all that. I have looked on the net and most puppies do get over this with the proper care. Have any of my friends here had to go through anything like this? They are about(probally) 16 weeks old and look to be blonde labador and bulldog mix. The other one seems to be ok. and we are keeping an eye on her. The vet Vaccinated the one at home as well. Its amazing how these things can pull at your heart. The one at the vet appears to be doing extremely well as compared to other dogs that he has treated that have recovered. Thanks in advance.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

Parvo is tuff to get rid of.<br />If one has it, then more than likely the other one will also.<br />Very contagious for sure.<br />Once they get it, you are real lucky if they survive.<br />Only if you catch it soon enough.<br />Was there any blood in the stools and did it have a very bad smell?<br />Parvo has a distinct smell to it when in vomit or feces.<br />Where ever you had these pups, clean it good with bleach, if not, the parvo virus is still there and they will get it again.

 

[Stratosfied]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

Yes the feces or vomit was very foul smelling. I have bleached the kennel and all the bedding that they used. Thanks. I hope they can over this.

 

[Jwill]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

I used to be involved in a dog rescue group and had to deal with the disease more than I care to think about. <br /><br />Survival of the dog depends on the dogs immune system and the strain of parvo. I had puppys that got it and it affected them very mildly and there's been times when a puppy would get it and it would kill them in a day.<br />It seemed when I had a litter of puppys 3 out 5 would come down with the virus.<br /><br />I think the incubation period is around 10 days so keep an eye on the other dog.<br />Parvo is generally a puppy disease and rarely affects larger dogs. I would caution bringing another puppy on your premises unless it was fully vaccinated.<br /><br />In order to kill the virus you need to mix 2-4 ounces of bleach per 1 gallon of water. Depending on the vetenarian you talk to they will tell you to use 2 or 4 ounces of bleach, so I generally use three ounces. The best way to apply is to use one of those ortho plant sprayers that you hook up to a garden hose. The sprayer makes it easy since you can dial in the ounces of bleach to be used per one gallon of water.<br />Common sense tells you the stronger the bleach the better but supposedly it isn't the case. The virus is very small and molecules in the bleach need to be dilluted to make them small enough so it can kill the virus.<br />Getting the parvo out of the concrete is easy its the dirt you have to worry about. Parvo can live up to 7 years in dirt. Spray everything in sight.<br />The disease is transmitted orally so anything the dog could have licked or slobbered on needs to be cleaned.<br /><br />Expect a hefty vet bill (around $500).<br />Even with the hefty vet bill and another mouth to feed you done the right thing.<br />I hope everything turns out well.

 

[Stratosfied]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

Thanks, the puppy at home had tapeworms and the Vet. took care of those as well. He has been a little puny since the treatment. However, she is doing great right now. We were just outside playing and she was running and just full of life. Thanks again.

 

[Jwill]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

Usually the virus will kill any worms the dog may have. Not sure about tapeworm so the vet may or may have screwed you on it.<br />When my dogs get tape worm I give them a shot of "Ivomec". you can buy it at the feedstore for $40 a bottle and it will last for years (it will expire long before you use it up). Doesn't take much. A 50 pound dog only requies a 1/2 cc.<br />If any of my dogs start scratching repeatadly and it isn't fleas I will give them a shot of ivomec and it will clear it up. Thats what the vets in my area use. It probably costs them a quarter for the medicine and they will charge $15+ for the shot plus the office visit.<br />If your dog gets cut open for any reason you can buy the same antibiotics at the feedstore that the vets use at a fraction of the price. Its called Aquamox or aquaamp. Ammoxicillin and Ampicillin.<br />Its sold for use only for fish but its good for dogs humans or whatever. I pay around $16 a bottle for 100 of them. Roughly .16 each the vet will charge $1.00 apiece.<br />If your local feedstore doesn't have it you can buy aquamox at exotic fish stores (costs a few bucks more) just ask for ammoxicillin because it can go b y different names.<br />I've healed some nasty wounds with auquamox and keeping it clean and covered. I useally cover the wound for a few days and than expose it. A wound takes alot longer to heal if its covered up.<br />Parvo vaccinations are available at the feedstore also.<br />I never go to the vet because they are a big rip off. Dogs are tuff and can heal right up with the proper care.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

I get all my supplies at Drs. Foster and Smith online.<br />All shots are sent to me on dri-ice and have no problems from them.<br />Have had problems at feed stores because some will not keep them stored at the right temp.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

Some years back, my wife nursed a dog through parvo by feeding it water with a rubber turkey baster type rig. That's all she did because, at the time, it was all we knew to do. The vet had told us it was going to die--period. She gave it water every hour or so and it started getting better after a few days. Grew to a ripe old age. It was a tough dog so that may have had something to do with it surviving, along with my wife keeping it hydrated. I guess the message here is to not give up and do nothing, because you never know. Good luck.

 

[Stratosfied]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

UpDate--Brought the puppie(Dixie) home from the Vets tonight(Sunday). She is doing great and has has overed the parvo. On the other hand, we took the other puppie(Sassy) to the vet Thursday as she got really ill on Wed. night. She is doing as good as can be expected and should be out of the woods in a few days. Thank you all for your support and prayers for us. I will post an update when I know more. I will try to post some pics too. Dixie is like a totally different dog.

 

[TPD211]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

Stratosfied,<br /><br />Kudo's to you for rescuing the puppies and taking them to the vet.<br /><br />I was a K-9 Officer for 5 years and had a Golden Retreiver that was a narcotics and tracking dog. <br />His name was Shane and I'll tell you, the bond between me and that dog was deep. I had to put him down after I retired him due to his hips being so bad. He got to where he could only sleep and poop. It still tugs at me and that was 5 years ago.

 

[Stratosfied]

Re: Pet Problems (Parvo)

update: Brought Sassy home Friday after being in the hosp. for 7 nights. She is Fine except for being very thin. She doesn't seem to have much energy though she is seeming better this am. Dixie that we brought home Sun. is fine and as fat as a butterball and full of energy. I hope that Sassy will get this way soon. I would post pics now but Sassy is so thin that I will wait for a few days. Thanks Everyone.