I did not want to believe that Oprah's puppy that she adopted from PAWS had passed away from Parvo. I was hoping that it was nothing more that smoke from the original source but sadly it looks to be true. Ivan did pass away this past weekend from Parvo and her other puppy Sadie has also become infected as well.
It is just so sad and heartbreaking.
OPRAH WINFREY: Oprah's second dog dies -- chicagotribune.com
chicagotribune.com
One of Oprah Winfrey's puppies succumbs to virus
By William Hageman
Tribune staff reporter
3:12 PM CDT, March 17, 2009
One of two puppies adopted by Oprah Winfrey this month has died.
Winfrey adopted an 8-week-old blond cocker spaniel from PAWS Chicago and introduced the puppy, named Sadie, to her TV audience on her March 6 show. She also brought out three of Sadie's littermates, one of whom she subsequently adopted and named Ivan.
Several days later, Ivan became ill with the highly contagious parvovirus. A spokeswoman for Winfrey's Harpo Productions confirmed Tuesday that Ivan died late last week. Sadie, too, was infected, but has stabilized for the first time since she began receiving treatment last Thursday. The spokeswoman said "she's holding her own for now."
Winfrey, in a statement to the Tribune, said, "I'm saddened by his passing, though we only had him for a weekend. I remain hopeful that Sadie will pull through."
Puppies, whose immune systems are not yet fully developed, are most susceptible to parvovirus, which is transmitted through fecal matter and vomit of infected dogs. It can be brought into a puppy's environment on someone's shoes or clothes or even on the tires of their car. It's extremely hardy and can survive in the environment for up to nine months. A pet owner doesn't know a dog is infected until the symptoms develop.
"It's a devastating disease when it hits," says Kathleen Heneghan, past president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association.
Symptoms include bloody vomiting and/or diarrhea, which can lead to extreme fluid loss and dehydration until shock and death result. Also, bacteria can invade the animal's entire body, resulting in the formation of septic toxins and death. It is not a threat to humans. With early and intensive treatment the survival rate is nearly 80 percent.
Winfrey has worked with and supported PAWS in the past, most notably during a series of shows last year about puppy mills and pet overpopulation. She also has funded a pet room at the facility.
Heneghan says that until a puppy has completed its shots, it's best to avoid areas where they might come in contact with the virus: the beach, puppy play dates, dog parks and so on.
"You have to treat a puppy like a brand-new baby," she says. "They're not fully protected until they're 4 months of age."
Heneghan also said that the best insurance for a pet owner is to develop a strong relationship with a vet.
"Make sure the puppy is checked out from Day 1. That way, if something does change and it becomes ill, you've already got someone you trust who you can bring the pet to."
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