Does anyone have first hand knowledge of Parvo?

[Dufaeth]

I adopted an Aussie Shepherd puppy named Sayla on saturday. Yesterday she got sick and was throwing up quite a bit. I took her to the vet about 3ish. She gave her an antibiotic/anti-nausea shot. She had a temp of 104. I gave her pedialite all night and took her out every couple of hours as she had diarrhea. She did not however throw up after the vet visit.

This morning, she ate breakfast but then hasn't eaten the rest of the day. She diarrhea'd once but that was it. She was playful midday. I started to get concerned that she hadn't eaten and was sleepy all evening, they said it was probably ok. When I checked her temp earlier this evening it was down to 101 so I thought everything was going to be fine.

She just now threw up again. I took her outside and she had diarrhea. Does this sound at all like Parvo? The descriptions i've read all seem to indicate constant vomiting which she isn't really doing, but I am worried. Please let me know if you know anything.

[graywarrior]

1. Sorry, I don't.

Wicked cute puppy. Did you search the web?

[Dufaeth]

3. I did look, but the symptoms and descriptions

are kind of general, and I'm trying to pin down what it is as much as possible because I'm freaked out with worry.

[henslee]

5. Don't forget a dog that young/small can go from bad to worse quickly,

Did dog have Parvo shots -- is she young enough? And did Vet ask you if dog hat shots? Sounds to me like your dog needs to be kept under observation.

[havocmom]

2. Dog I had long ago did similar thing. Me and the vets all thought Parvo

But they did some tests and work and said no. She had some sort of liver abnomality. After that, I just had to keep an eye on her protien intake as too much would always maker her sick like that. Also, no rawhide chewies of pig ears. She would get very sick from them.

Hope your new pal (and she is a cutie) will be fine. My ol dog lived to a ripe old age.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. Response to Sick Pupp

Hello - this is Diana - Hell's sister. My dear, where do you live? Your puppy, since adopted from the pound, could most certainly have parvo. Parvo is a virus, and vomiting is indeed a symptom. Supportive care is what is needed - IV fluids and antibiotics - probably Baytril. The reason why I asked where you live is to see what vet might be a good resource for you in the a.m. Also, you could call the pound and see if any other dogs have broken with these symptoms.

In the meantime, do not expect her to eat, give her pedialyte to drink, and get her either to the emergency room or a vet ASAP. The anti-nausea drug has worn off - that is why she vomited again. Let me know...

Also - should have asked this - did she receive any vaccinations lately? How old is she? That is also a factor.

Diana

[Dufaeth]

7. She's in the 2 month range.

Shes only had her first Parvo shot. She doesn't have blood in her stool. Just checked her temp which is still 101. The vet said the other day, to take her to the ER if she becomes dehydrated. Last night I got up every 2 hours and checked on her which I intend to do tonight as well. Shes been good about drinking her pedialite.
I have the ER number ready if necessary. Otherwise, do you think its ok to take her to the normal vet first thing in the morning? The ER here is apparently incredibly overpriced, but I'll do that if its necessary.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. Sick Puppy

You're doing fine. Yes, if you can wait until the a.m., do so. ER's are always overpriced...sad but true. There doesn't have to be blood in the stool - the blood and mucus are the sluffing of the intestinal lining. Hydration is your friend. If she will drink her fluids (lots), then great. If she doesn't want to eat tonight, that's ok. Have your vet do the Parvo test, then let's go from there. Good end? Just a little virus, like the flu, and all will be just fine. Bad end? Parvo, and with good supportive care, you have a great prognosis. And you are a good mom.

Did your vet give the vaccine or did the shelter? Keep a chart of when you take her temp, et al - that will help the vet greatly.

Let us know...and what is her name?

Diana

[Dufaeth]

10. Dad :)

Thanks for your help and support. Her name is Sayla.

[xmas74]

6. Is she listless and depressed?

When I got my dog a number of years ago she had Parvo. We didn't know it for a day or so until the vomiting, diarrhea and listless.
The depression was the big identifier for our vet. He immediately ran the test and found it positive.

Be advised-it's a huge vet bill. Lots of IV's and overnight time.

[Dufaeth]

8. Yesterday she was depressed,

today, up until this evening, she was normal. She seemed to become depressed into the evening though.
How big of a vet bill will I be looking at if it is Parvo?

[xmas74]

15. In 1998 it was almost $1400.

It will depend on your vet. I have one where I live at right now who would have done it for much less.

[bleedingheart]

11. our dachsund got parvo...it cost only $100 back in 1980

my dad had just died and our new puppy gets so sick that my mother went nuts finding a vet....she didn't want our dog to die right after our dad did....so the puppy went to the vet for a week of IV's...and it only cost $100 bucks...but I am sure it would cost a mint today...

[xmas74]

14. In 1998 it was almost $1400

for a smalltown vet and a week at the clinic.

[flvegan]

12. Let's talk smell...

Parvo puppies, um, "create" a unique smell all their own.

Probably not parvo, but puppy needs to see a vet anyway.

Cute cute CYOOOOOOOOOOOOT puppy there!!!

[sandnsea]

13. My 9 year old had Parvo

Where I lived in Nevada was thick with parvo, it was in the ground or something. We got a pup from the pound, thought she had her shots, she got sick and died within 24 hours. Then my son brought home another pup, before we could even get her into the vet, she picked up the parvo too. If the mother doesn't have shots, the pup isn't immune either, but we didn't know that. We nursed her through that, but you have to wait a certain time before they can get their shot, and she got it again.


Yeah, I know something about parvo. *sigh*

Your pup sounds like she's doing very well if this is parvo. They don't eat or play or even drink much. Mind was completely listless, we literally stayed up with her around the clock. Pedialyte and Pepto Bismol. The vet said the only other thing that could be done was put her on an iv, and we couldn't afford that. We just kept at it for several days, lots of fluids and the Pepto to settle her stomach. But we nursed her through.

Hang in there and just don't give up!

[China_cat]

16. Parvo produces

an unrelenting diarrhea that is black in color and tarry looking with a horrendous smell, along with a vomit that is sometimes blood tinged. The combination leads very quickly to dehydration and death (sometimes in less than 24 hours)

If she's been in contact with any rescues out of the Katrina areas, have her checked for leptospirosis (something she could pass on to you) but it really doesn't sound like Parvo.

Common clinical signs of lepto; fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, stiffness, severe muscle pain, or any combo of these.

[Wcross]

17. It sounds like Parvo to me.

I had the mis-fortune of watching a puppy die slowly of parvo. It was my roommates girlfriends dog and she was more interested in her next cocaine fix than spending her money on the dog. It still haunts me to this day that I couldn't do anything for the little guy because I was unemployed and barley could pay for my rent and food.
I can give you some advice though. After the dog has recovered decontaminate the areas he has been in (use a bleach/water mixture in a spray bottle). Also, get rid of that plastic bowl you have there and buy a metal dish. Trust me on this, plastic holds bacteria while metal does not if washed on a regular basis.

[Dufaeth]

20. The plastic dish was a temporary one,

to keep her water and foods seperate from my other dog.

[Wcross]

26. Just making sure. (Thats a good idea with her being sick)

I was just saying that just in case. I hope she pulls through, she looks like a wonderful new friend. I have always thought that rescuing a dog from the shelter is the only way to become a pet owner. Why buy a dog when you can save a dogs life?

[ernstbass]

18. My dog w/ Parvo had similar symptoms

I adopted a bluetick from the pound and she got sick within days. Her parvo was complicated by hook and tape worms. She had to spend 2 nights at the vets office and the bill was about $800. She rapidly recovered once they got IV fluids in her. Good luck>

[Dufaeth]

19. She has parvo.

I took her in first thing and the test showed she has Parvo. She is now at the vet to stay for the weekend for treatment. My other dog is 1yr and 10 months, so I took her in for a booster. I've removed everything she was in contact with or sick on, and I've bleached the bathroom floor. Next I've got to bleach the yard.
Wish us luck.

If anyone has other advice to protect my other dog please let me know.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

21. Hey D, Hell here....

I'm asking my sister Diana to drop by and give you some advice on proper cleaning of your space and protecting your other pooch.

Sorry to here Shayla has parvo, but glad to hear she is getting treatment -- she should pull through just fine.

Hell

[Hell Hath No Fury]

22. Parvo Protocols

Good morning...I am so sorry to hear that she has parvo, but I am not surprised. GLAD you took her in first thing, and GLAD that you got your other dog her booster. Now. Did your vet tell you to bleach everything? Usually, 5% bleach solution does the trick. That means 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Parvo, since it is a nasty virus, does stay in the soil. But once your dog's immune system comes up, she will do much better. Please go to www.kvvet.com's website and you can call and talk to Dr. Porter there. Tell him the crazy bunny rehabber recommended you do that. There are other quatternary formulas out there (Roccal being the most common) that also kill the viruses. Sunshine is your best friend, and 6 months is usually the time that Parvo can stay in the soil. And, of course, you can check these facts. Go google Merck Veterinary Manual - 8th edition, it has all the definitions and descriptions of diseases in animals. But for right now, just using bleach to swab down the floors, a little in the laundry, et al, will be fine. I recommend ceramic or stainless steel food containers, as they can be disinfected. Plastic is really hard. Your girl will get good care at your vet's, she may be able to come home on Monday, but if you are at all leary about that, then let her stay there another day or two. Usually animals heal much better when they are home, but in this case, she is quarantined well and hooked up to IV's. I am sure you can go and visit her!! Also make sure you ask your vet about worming her and her vaccinations (for later). The schedule will change a bit as she is sick now. This is NOT a death sentence!! You caught it right in time.

You can also go to the VIN website (Veterinary Information Network) - they have a question board there, and great vets will answer your questions. Good luck, am sending Reiki to her!!

Let me know if I can do anything else.

Bunny hugs,

Diana

[Hell Hath No Fury]

23. Don't forget...

to contact the shelter you adopted her at and let them know she has parvo -- this is really important! -- they will have to take care of their facility and check the other dogs for problems.

Hell

[Dufaeth]

24. Already did, Thanks!

I wanted to make sure her siblings are taken care of.

[Dufaeth]

25. Thanks for all the info, I'll definetly check it out.

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