Possible parvo in puppy could do with some info

[deja224]

Late friday night we took a puppy in he is very skinny and was suffering from dehydration so was very weak i gave him fluids and he seamed to peark up, but still had bad diarrhea and sickness he hasnt been eating and drinking much so i been giving him fluids, rang vet today to get him a urgent appointment the vet has said he may have parvo im really hoping he just has bad worms but hes very quiet and sleeping loads he is a border collie so should be full of it

any one have experence with a case like this?

 

[MurphysMinder]

How old is he? Does sound as if it might be parvo from your description. The vet may keep him in and put him on a drip to rehydrate him. Sending loads of vibes.

 

[deja224]

we where told 14 weeks i thought 8 weeks vet said 7-8 weeks

 

[MurphysMinder]

So presumably no vaccinations. I would just get the pup to the vet asap, hopefully you have caught it in time.

 

[GinaB]

You need to get this dog to the vet right away. If I remember correctly they is no specific treatment for parvo, it is more supportive therapy for the dehydration, loss of electrolytes etc

 

[concino]

Just found this and share the urgency of Sandyclaws.

Sadly I have had a lot of experience with parvo - over 30 years ago when it first appeared the only vaccination available was with the feline enteritis vaccine.

The treatment for parvo is very much supportive therapy and the need for re-hydration cannot be over emphasised.

Lastly I would add that the smell which accompanies parvo is unmistakable and once you smell it, you will not forget. This virus strips away the lining of the gut and in the resulting bloodied diarrrhoea you can see this. Sorry if this is a bit too discriptive but if this is parvo, you must act quickly if this dog has any chance of survival. I cannot emphisise too strongly the need for intravenous fluids - if the dog is being sick then trying to administer fluids by mouth will cause more dehydration.

Good luck - hope it's not parvo !!

 

[MurphysMinder]

I hope this pup has seen a vet now. I too was unfortunate enough to experience parvo when it first occurred back in the 70s. We brought it back from a show in Scotland and a litter of pups went down with it. By some miracle they survived, although 2 were left with heart problems. I know what you mean about the smell, horrendous.

 

[lhotse]

I would have had the puppy to the vet on saturday morning. Have you actually been to the vet today or just spoken on the phone. Emergency vet, please ring now.

 

[CAYLA]

Parvo is very much a survival of the fittest, and strength immunity, if he is in bad sorts, against this type of virus, he will be fighting for his life, literally

and the quicker u get him to vets for re-hydration and meds, the better chance he will have, it's a horrific and sad thing to watch any dog suffer.
As suggested the smell is horrific, and generally bloody or browny/black in colour, and like water.

Hopefully he has become so thin and in a bad way, as u describe, and has maybe not had food for so long, he is struggling with taking food and water by mouth and need a build up via i.v fluids to lessen the upset on his stomach, and cause more dehydration via vomiting and passing loose faeces, or as suggested a bad bout of worms, on top of it all.

Good luck , and keep us updated.

 

[AmyMay]

To add to all of the above, and to stress that the urgency of treating can not be underestimated, parvo is also HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.

 

[Patches]

Is there an update on the pup this morning?

Have kept everything crossed for him. Poor little mite.

Was he given to you/abandoned? Hard to imagine anyone letting him go in that state.

 

[deja224]

UPDATE: He was at the vets yesterday thats where we learnt he could have parvo they cant keep him in as they dont have any where to put such a dog so thats why i have him at home, the vet weigh him and he is 3kg and about 7/8 weeks, they put a ball of fluid under his skin to help, i am in contact with a larger vet now to get him more treatment , he did eat and drink something last night after 24 hours of not so thats good news, the other vets say it could be he is so staved his gutts arnt working right but they are worried about the smell of his poo, doing all we can for him been told the next 48 are important, i was told about him by a breeder who was concerd as she breed him knowing notting about dogs then sold him on sadly 4 out the litter died.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I cannot believe a vet would not hospitalise a pup they think might have parvo. I hope the larger practice you are now talking to will treat him properly. Not sure how a breeder can have sold him on when he is only 7 or 8 weeks old now, how old was the poor little mite when she got rid of him

I would hesitate to argue with a vet but I would think he is better off not being fed at all just being kept on electrolytes until he hopefully improves a bit. Keeping fingers crossed for him.

 

[deja224]

i have talked to breader he was sold at 6 weeks she thinks but she didnt really no going to take him to other vets later when they close just got to keep a eye on him today for changes

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I cannot believe a vet would not hospitalise a pup they think might have parvo.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know of any practice that would take a Parvo dog - unless they had quarantine facillities.

The condition is highly contagious.

 

[MurphysMinder]

All the practices I have had experience of have had quarantine facilities, but maybe smaller ones don't. I am aware how contagious it is, had a litter with it 30 years ago and have seen other cases since. I still think it sounds as if this pup should be on iv fluids.

 

[concino]

I would go with the above re. I.V. fluids. Dehydration is always serious particularly for a young pup. The system will rapidly shut down and/ or the pup will go into shock. I.V. fluids will make a huge difference to whether this pup survives.

As mentioned, Parvo is highly contagious and normal disinfectants will not kill the virus. Prior to the development of specific disinfectants, bleach was used but as with all disinfectants it is imperitive that they are 'made up' according to the instructions.

Over 30 years ago this virus was a real 'voyage of discovery' as so little was known about how to deal with it. You should be aware that the virus can survive for several years in the soil and remain a possible cause of further infection. The virus is not only highly contagious but extremely resilient.

At least this poor chap is with someone who is not afraid to ask for help and is obviously doing all they can. I really hope that it isn't parvo and that your pup is a fighter. Good luck to you and him. Keep us posted, it seems as though there are many people willing your pup to survive.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I can remember we used some cocktail of black crystals to disinfect our kennels. Can't remember the name but it was seriously strong stuf, a case of light the blue touch paper and run as I recall

 

[CorvusCorax]

Is six weeks not way too young to sell a pup? Pity the person who 'knew nothing about dogs' and bred anyway (that's how I'm reading it deja, correct me if I am wrong) had to learn the hard way that it's not just a case of throwing a dog and a bitch together and hoping for the best.


Fingers crossed it all turns out OK for you and him.

Edited to correct yet another typo.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I found someone with a better memory than me -the solution we used to (hopefully) disinfect the kennels was formaldehyde and potassium permanganate. You put the formaldehyde in a galvanised bucket (think plastic would have melted) added the pp crystals and this cloud of vapour rose, which was supposed to kill the virus. You had to leave the area sealed for some time, think it was quite toxic

 

[concino]

MurphysMinder - think it was the permanganate crystals that through me back in time !!! The specific disinfectant that eventually came on to the market was, I think, called Formula H. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong - is it still available ? They have probably come up with something new / better by now.

 

[deja224]

More of a update: seen other bigger vet, he said there in a one in 20 chance it is parvo but he says this pup is 6 weeks if that he dosesnt no how to eat thats why he is faving warm goats milk, so got to feed him chicken and rice, got to put in his mouth and hold his mouth for a second to get him to chew it and go from there, i have re contacted people he was with they had him 24 hours before we had him so he must be very unsettled and missing his mum poor little lad,

Thank u all for your on going help and suport its not a easy time

 

[Patches]

Our pup, Bess, was only six weeks when we had her (vet said definitely not eight weeks as we were led to believe).

She lapped and ate food readily from that age. I thought the mother's weaned them naturally about five weeks old anyway?

I do hope the little sausage is ok. What had he been fed before you got him, do you know?

 

[lhotse]

Things are not adding up again Deja, sorry.

 

[GinaB]

Yes, I am very confused that said pup cannot eat for itself? Or could it be said pup is so ill it's not wanting to it?

TBH things aren't sounding good for the pup

 

[lhotse]

Which is why it should be in a veterinary hospital, isn't that right Deja?

 

[severnmiles]

Not really adding up. If it is Parvo then the diarrhea will stink to high heaven and contain blood. There are several illnesses that have similar symptoms though. A vet however would not say there is a one in twenty chance of it being Parvo, he/she would have done tests and confirmed it (or not as the case may be) to treat it appropriately.

Depending on breed and/or line of what you're breeding from some puppies will start eating a soft mash as young as 2 - 2 1/2 weeks old so I think its a little bizarre that even at 6 weeks it is favouring milk over solids. No wonder it is thin.

 

[severnmiles]

Now I've been told that even most of the these disinfectants that say they kill Parvo don't.

Apparently Chlorine bleach or boiling water (the latter being impractical for kennels) are the only two things that kill Parvo virus.

It can travel on wildife, birds, tyres, shoes and even from farms via straw so its a tricky old virus to contain!

 

[MurphysMinder]

A puppy should be perfectly capable of eating at 5 or 6 weeks. I used to start puppies on solid food at as young as 3 weeks sometimes, you seem to have some vets with strange ideas Deja. Just hope this little chap does pull through, but I don't like the idea of holding food in the mouth of a puppy who is feeling ill, put yourself in his position

Concino, I remember Formula H being hailed as the wonder disinfectant, not sure if its still about, and sincerely hope I never have need of it again.

 

[*hic*]

Deja - have you taken note that IF it IS Parvo then it is highly contagious? You need to take great care not to risk the health of any of the dogs you work with.