3 dogs need your thoughts/prayers *Update w/pics*

[fearlessella]

I wrote this last night too, but something happened to the server.  Today things have changed hopefully for the better, but I still need some good vibes going to these special ones.

Parvo has been taking over my life most recently.  It is actually killing my nerves because about 3-4 months ago the rescue I help lost 4 babies to this horrible virus.  All I can think now is that any dog that gets it is doomed.  I spend any time I can in our isolation at the clinic I work with the parvo babies trying to keep their spirits high, so they don't lose hope.  It is very draining on me though.  When I spend all that time in there I get too attached.  My heart has been broken several times by it. 

Sunday a dog that we rescued from the pound the Wed before was diagnosed and rushed to my vet for treatment.  He has been there ever since, and today he was the worst one.  Still hanging in there though & better than he has been.  I call him Tibers and he is a small mixed dog about 2 years old.


Then yesterday 2 pit mix pups about 4.5 months old came in with their owner.  His decision was to euthanize them due to $$.  Our rescue took on their treatment and medical expenses.  Today they are doing better.  I hope they only improve from there!  Their names are Bruno & Betty Boop (much better than her first name). 
-Bruno
- Betty

I thought I was done with parvo for a while, but working with rescue you never know when it will pop up.  Almost a month ago now the rescue also took on a sheltie pup that the owners could not afford treatment for.  It took over 2 weeks to get him to eat at every feeding.
- My  boy!

Today I feel better when I see them inprove.  Tibers is the only one that makes me nervous at this point, but one of the others may take a dive tomorrow.  Who knows?  I need some good thoughts coming their way though.  Thanks so much.  You guys were the first ones I thought of for this!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Tibers, Bruno, and Betty>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chelsea

[strangeduck]

My thoughts will certainly be with you and those poor babies.  What a horrible thing to have happen.

Were these dogs not vaccinated against parvo?  Or can they get sick even though they've been vaccinated?

[fearlessella]

Supposely the sheltie had one, but by 12 weeks he should have had at least 2 if not 3. 

The pit pups had one vaccine with our vet.  Other than that I am not sure of their history.  They are 4.5 months though and should be completely vaccinated.

We don't know the history on the 2 year old Tibers.  The rescue gave him his first on Thursday after we got him. 

They should not be able to get parvo if vaccinated correctly or their titer is high enough for them to fight it off.  (I know many people have different beliefs about vaccines.  I am not going into that at all.  I see every side of the issue.)  I just want to keep good thoughts/prayers going for my babies.

Thanks.

[tsk_n_such]

We're seeing it frequently at work as well. Several positive tests each week.  It's a horrible disease made all the more sad in that it's preventable if people vaccinate and use common sense

[ScoutGotBig]

Most of the parvo cases I've seen are not in the fully unvaccinated dogs - it's in ones who got the vaccine series started before 7 weeks old. 

Tho' lord I'm glad I'm not working with parvo puppies anymore!

[Marybelle]

These little guys will be in my thoughts.  Poor kids.

[ZooKeeper83]

Poor little ones.  My basset had this as a pup.  He was one vaccinated too young, most likely.  He was a pet store puppy (ie puppy mill) that got parvo while in the store.  He was taken to the store's vet and had a full recovery, but by the time he came out and was put back up for sale, no one wanted him due to the fact that he was older and larger than the 'tiny and cute' puppies normal pet store shoppers crave.

And yes, I knew better than to take him, but I will never regret it - no matter how much he has cost me in vet bills over the years.  However, I would also never do it again.

Here's to hoping they all make a full recovery like my boy was able to!

[fearlessella]

Tibers is hanging in there.  He has a pretty bad case of kennel cough on top of everything else, so that is why I think it is taking him longer. 

Bruno and Betty are both eating today!

[Marybelle]

Yay!  Go Bruno and Betty!  Keep it up!

And c'mon Tiber.  Kick that bug!

[Sheryl]

I'm really pulling for Tiber, here...poor little one.  At my vet clinic, we've been seeing more and more parvo cases - it's mostly from breeders (backyard) in Quebec.  The owners all say the same thing (you'd think they'd be a little more suspicious) - that the breeder can't meet them at home as it's too far away, blahblahblah!  Then when the vet tries to contact the breeder, the number is out of service.  We've had to euthanize way too many puppies because the owners couldn't afford the medical costs.

It must just wrench you heart...sending good thoughts your way.

[fearlessella]

I just have to update that all puppies are recovering nicely.  Tiber is the slowest, but he is eating well now and getting better.  Thanks so much for the support everyone.  I will let you know when there is another, but hopefully it will be a LONG time!!

[Marybelle]

Yay!  Go puppies!

[star2]

I'm so glad the pups are doing better 
Is it a bad idea to take my pups to Petsmart with me because parvo is so contagious??

[fearlessella]

As long as your puppies have had all of their immunizations they are fine at Petsmart.

[star2]

Thank you