New Pup, CanineParvovirus

wifeforlife

Hi Guys

Had never heard of Parvo virus but my new pup that I only got on Thursday is currently in the vets getting tested for it. The poor wee pup has been so sedate and ill over the weekend and it's heartbreaking to think that it could die.

I got her inoculated first thing on friday morning but the vet has said it might not be enough, I'm so very upset as it had been 2 years of making sure myself and my daughter could properly look after a dog and I've got so attached already to it.

I called the dog warden as I got the pup from the local council dog pound and he basically palmed me off saying the vet was scaring me and that parvovirus doesnt really exist anymore, but I feel very aggrieved as I didnt even get a chance to get her insured or anything as it's seen as a pre existing condition.

I think I'm in shock and I dont really know why I'm posting I suppose I'm sitting here like an eejit crying and needed to tell someone, only a few posts down is my first post getting advice about my new addition and now I'm contemplating her dying already.

The vet did say at least I have acted quickly and it may all work out ok but not to get my hopes up, I hope it's just dehydration and worms or something so I can get a chance to give her a lovely life

Cate

Andybez38

Ive had a dog die with parvo virus, and it almost alway's is the end for the dog if not vaccinated. Especially puppies. Hope your pup manages to pull through.

zebidee1

Really sorry to hear this Cate, I hope the wee soul picks up.

Hope you don't mind me using this thread to ask this...but if a puppy has to avoid other dogs before it gets it's jags, what happens if there are other dogs in the vet's waiting room when you visit for the first lot?

lil_me

Fingers crossed for you all, especially the little pup.

pboae

zebidee1, you keep it up off the floor and don't let other dogs sniff or lick it. Most of the serious illness require contact to be spread.

Cathy2702, I'm so so sorry to hear this. It is a rare pup that survives Parvo.

Parvo outbreaks were becoming rare (though there was a large breakout in 2005 across Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties). Unfortunately, because outbreaks are rare, people have started to get more lax about vaccinating (I don't mean you, I mean the wider population) and so it is on the increase again. The virus can remain in the environment for a long while.

Perhaps the dog warden was trying to avoid having to deal with the hassle of confirmed case of Parvo in the local dog pound. (Hopefully your vet will have given you advice on disinfecting your house, and all the puppy's things.). If it does turn out to be Parvo, please could you PM me the name of the dog pound? Many rescues take dogs direct from pounds for assement prior to rehoming. If your pound let them take dogs without declaring a Parvo case, it could quickly spread to other kennels too.

Sadly many council pounds don't bother vaccinate or worming dogs, they are only legally obliged to provide essential vet care, anything else eats into their profits. It is one of the big differences between pounds and rescues.

On the positive side, there are lots and lots of things which can look like Parvo in a pup (dehydration being a big one). I can't tell you how much I hope this is just a scare, and that she is back home with you quickly.

suki1964

Cathy, fingers crossed that its not parvo. I remember you posting previously that the pup had been sick after being wormed, this may be whats wrong, she may be seriously` dehydrated which although is serious in itself it can be remedied with the correct vet care

Thinking of you
xxx

wifeforlife

Thanks very much for all your posts, I've been very upset all day and I find I get very weepy just thinking of her, I seriously hope it's not parvo which I hadnt even heard about until today (I really am a novice dog owner) and I hope the vet has good news tomorrow for us.

I'll keep you all posted in the morning.

pboae- I live in NI and it's my local council dog warden, I'll definately be involving any authorities if it is, I wouldnt want any other dogs to suffer how I watched lola this past few days

Thanks
Cate

lazza_w

Parvo is not always fatal. There are strains of it that vary in severity (much the same way a 'flu strains vary). Some can be mild, and cause diarrhoea and vomiting, but pets get over it with just supportive treatment.

Many strains, however, can be severe and cause bloody diarrhoea and vomiting and are often fatal. A positive results is not necessarily curtains but it is a disease with potentially fatal consequences.

If symptoms are severe then hospitalistion for intravenous fluids and antibiotics will be required. Unfortunately the disease is more severe in young animals.


The dog warden is wrong about parvo not being a problem any more. It he 80's is swept through Britain, killing thousands of dogs. Since then vaccination and natural immunity has reduced the frequency to very low levels. As with measles vaccination in people, as fewer people vaccinate their dogs then 'herd' immunity falls off so these diseases start to become more common.

lil_me

Unfortunately it isn't rare here, when I was at the vets 2 weeks ago she'd dealt with 6 cases just in her area that week, people not vaccinating because they don't think it exists anymore doesn't help. Not all these cases were fatal.

Still got fingers crossed here for cate's pup, will be thinking of you all.

candygirl

Cate hope your pup pulls through, parvo isn't as rare as a lot of people think.I'm praying she survives, please let us know:A

tiamai_d

About 15 years ago our new Rotweiller puppy got parvo a week after his jab.

He was very ill, I have never seen a dog or any animal as ill as he was, BUT he did pull through. It was a struggle, but he made it. The jab allready in his blood gave him that extra bit of fight.

He was then weeks recovering, being fed rich tea biscuits and coaxed to drink water little by little. He lived to a grand old age and is now very much missed.

Parvo does still exist, though less common, but it is still highly infectious and very serious.

Hope he pulls through, but it sounds like you got him there quickly, which will make all the difference.