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Parvo and Distemper
Ok guys, I should probably post this on the health board, but I'm not
subscribed to it anymore...and you guys would probably be the ones giving me the answers anyway. A friend of mine got a puppy the other day. I talked her out of the puppymill puppy (yah for me....but it was my first experience seeing a puppymill in person and it made me just plain sick [both to my stomach and my heart]), but she did get one later that day from a "hobby breeder." The "hobby breeder" ended up not being a hobby breeder in my book...she ended up being a supplier to a broker. Here's how it went down: She called on an ad in the paper (there's only so much influence I have). The lady said that she was a hobby breeder and her puppies currently had parvo, so they weren't available. However, her mom had a litter that was ready to go. After a big fiasco...and miles and miles of driving we pull in this lady's driveway. The puppies were so much better looking than the puppymill pups! The lady took us back to the adult dogs (kept in pens that in my opinion were too small for boxers, but they at least had a little bit of room to move around and the pens were clean). The dogs appeared to be in good shape, healthy coats, energetic, the right weights. They were nice looking...I'm not an expert, but I at least know most of the breed standard and what a boxer is SUPPOSED to look like. These were at least much closer than the puppymiller dogs. I couldn't talk my friend out of it, so she forked over her $300...I went and pet the pup that I had "picked"...knowing I couldn't get one because I couldn't afford it, and wouldn't get one because it would be hypocritical...and said goodbye. So, she ended up with Merlin. He is a good pup. I got off the phone with her this evening, however, and Merlin is sick. His head is hanging, he's vomitting. No fever. She's taking him to the vet tomorrow. My questions a What are the symptoms of Parvo? Can Parvo be carried from one house to another? (Could the daughter who's puppies had Parvo have carried it from her house to the puppies? How long could the puppy have been sick before it had symptoms? Can a sick puppy be contagious to other dogs? (that's probably a silly question). Can older dogs get Parvo, or is it just puppies? What are the symptoms of distemper? What are the treatments for Parvo and Distemper? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I couldn't talk her out of getting this puppy, but that doesn't mean I want Merlin to die He really is a sweet thing. Have you ever seen an ugly puppy? sigh Mali |
#2
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Mali More wrote:
My questions a What are the symptoms of Parvo? Can Parvo be carried from one house to another? (Could the daughter who's puppies had Parvo have carried it from her house to the puppies? How long could the puppy have been sick before it had symptoms? Can a sick puppy be contagious to other dogs? (that's probably a silly question). Can older dogs get Parvo, or is it just puppies? What are the symptoms of distemper? What are the treatments for Parvo and Distemper? No personal experience, but found information on Parvo he http://nd.essortment.com/symptomscanine_rhnu.htm http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm Distemper symptoms (doesn't sound like this is what he has) http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/distemper/ Parvo is a really nasty disease, and the pup is in serious jeopardy if he in fact has parvo. I know someone who lost his pup after trying everything, and it was both emotionally and financially taxing. If you have an emergency vet in your area, I would *strongly* recommend that she take her pup in ASAP. The little ones can go downhill quickly, and you want to stack the decks in his favor. Good luck, Suja |
#3
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I have had several personal experiences with parvo - with our first pup
years and years ago.....he contracted it at about 12 weeks of age, we caught it very quickly, got him to the vet for serious treatment, and over $500 later, Bear is now a happy 11 yr old aussie! I have also had an adult foster dog come down with parvo, he too received treatment at the first signs of the disease and also survived. The main symptom is diarrhea - a very putrid, very specific smelling diarrhea - usually mucus-y and often bloody. Vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, fever - these are all followed. I believe the incubation period is 7-14 days. It is EXTREMELY contagious to unvaccinated dogs and especially pups (whose immune systems are less developed)......it is transmitted in the feces of infected animals, and is a nasty virus to kill. It can live outside in your yard or at a park for up to a year and still infect unvaccinated animals. Everything a parvo dog comes in contact with must be thoroughly cleaned with bleach or thrown away. A parvo dog can shed the virus in their stool for more than 6-8 months after they have recovered from the disease. Puppies are highly susceptible, and have a 50% or greater death rate as they can become dehydrated so quickly. The main problem with parvo is that the virus attacks the digestive tract, specifically the lining of the intestines.....dehydration is then followed by secondary infection in the lining of the intestines. Your best bet is to get that pup into the vet asap for a test for parvo......because it is a virus, the treatment is solely supportive therapy. The quicker you catch it and support the dog, the greater the chance of recovery. I know less about distemper......I think it is characterized by lots of mucus and discharge from the eyes/nose along with a fever that comes and goes. Good luck with the pup. Tracy |
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Tracy Custer said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:
Your best bet is to get that pup into the vet asap for a test for parvo...... Here's a question I've been meaning to ask: If you suspect your dog has parvo, should you alert your vet so that you can bring it in through a back entrance, bypassing the waiting room? -- --Matt. Rocky's a Dog. |
#5
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"Rocky" wrote in message: Tracy Custer said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior: Your best bet is to get that pup into the vet asap for a test for parvo...... Here's a question I've been meaning to ask: If you suspect your dog has parvo, should you alert your vet so that you can bring it in through a back entrance, bypassing the waiting room? -- That would make sense to me, if Parvo is contagious (like I think it is...notice that "think," that's why I'm asking questions. Was the post from Tracy Custer in this thread, because the only reply I received is the post from Matt. Is my OE screwing up? Might have to change, see if it helps in getting along me Mr. Jack And Mr. Jack, I wasn't trying to be rude or get on your bad side Mali |
#6
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"Rocky" wrote in message ... Here's a question I've been meaning to ask: If you suspect your dog has parvo, should you alert your vet so that you can bring it in through a back entrance, bypassing the waiting room? my vet has a sign on the entrance saying that if your dog has diahrea to please knock on the staff entrance. dainerra |
#7
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"Mali More"
snip That would make sense to me, if Parvo is contagious (like I think it is...notice that "think," that's why I'm asking questions. Yes, Parvo is highly contagious. Was the post from Tracy Custer in this thread, because the only reply I received is the post from Matt. Is my OE screwing up? Yes, OE is screwing up. There have been other posts in this thread. Get the puppy to a vet ASAP. That is _now_. Parvo is very contagious and is transmitted via feces. That is, if you stepped where parvo-poop was and walked around, you're now spreading it. If you are in contact with Parvo pups and don't wash up and sterilize you can easily transmit the disease to other dogs. It is contagious to unvaccinated adults and puppies. It can live in the ground for, IIRC, up to a year. Bad, bad stuff. The sooner Merlin is treated, the better chance he has. Andrea Stone Saorsa Basenjis |
#8
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On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 16:57:20 GMT, "Mali More"
wrote: Was the post from Tracy Custer in this thread, because the only reply I received is the post from Matt. Is my OE screwing up? it's more likely that your newsfeed is dropping posts (unless you've inadvertently killfiled the people whose posts you aren't getting). i highly recommend trying the free server from Berlin. it updates almost immediately and does not drop posts. It also filters out most of the junk that gets posted in HTML. http://news.individual.net/ -- shelly http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette || http://cat-sidh.blogspot.com Thought is made in the mouth. -- Tristan Tzara |
#9
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"AndreaS"
Yes, OE is screwing up. There have been other posts in this thread. Its probably not OE since it doesn't know to do anything but download the specified number of posts from the news server. It wouldn't be selective about it. Its more likely that Mali's news server is to blame. -- Tara |
#10
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Matt, that's a great tip......when our 1 yr old foster dog had parvo, I
suspected it right away from that familiar nasty smell of his stool. When I told my vet, they honestly thought I was mistaken - they just don't see parvo that often in adult dogs around here. But I persisted, and talked them into a back door entry. Thank goodness, as he was positive. Tracy EAT, SLEEP, DISC-DOG! http://www.flyingk9s.com http://community.webtv.net/tracycust...USTERGRUBPAGE0 |
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