Parvo. :(

[MeggieNRoxie]

Hi, everyone. I could really use some positive thoughts and prayers. I'll start at the beginning- I was a surrogate for a friend and I delivered her twin girls about a month ago, very early. They were born at 27 weeks. They are still in the hospital having their ups and downs, and my emotions have been all over the place. After much thought, I decided to get a new yorkie. Having something to rock and cuddle and focus my attention on would really benefit me, and I had been thinking about it for so long.. what better time than this?

So, I finally picked up my sweet baby 2 days ago! She is only 8 weeks which does seem a bit young, but she has stolen my heart. My kids completely adore her.

About 12 hours ago, she had a pretty vile episode of diarrhea. I chalked it up to stress, because she had just been transported across state lines. But then she started vomiting and having more diarrhea, and she was refusing to eat or move from her bed. I rushed her to the emergency vet at midnight, where they did a parvo test. It immediately came up positive, and I lost it. I started sobbing like a fool. She was so expensive, and now this vet bill will be another huge cost, with no guarantee that she will pull through! I'm not sure where I'm going to be able to pull 2 grand (or more) from. I'll figure it out, but I am just devastated right now. I could really use some positive outcome stories, or even just some internet hugs. I am so worried. I'm going to go visit her later in the morning, but the vet warned me that she will get much worse before she gets better.. *if* she gets better.

[lilyorkiemilo]

Im so sorry to hear that you are going through all of this. Have you contacted the breeder and did he/she give you a health guarantee?? Parvo has a incubation period so Im assuming she already had it when you bought her which should make treatment the breeders responsibility. Im sending prayers and hugs your way.

[Belladea]

So sorry to hear what happened to you and that poor baby. I have not dealt with parvo myself but, I know of some cases where the pup made it through, so I am praying this is one of them! Obviously the person who sold you a sick puppy should be responsible....... however, if they sold you a pup at 8 weeks old, it may not be so easy to get them to own up and help you out. Please let us know how she does !!!!

[matese]

So sorry this new little baby is so sick, I would definitely contact the breeder. Keeping little baby in my prayers for a full recovery. (((hugs)))

[Scoobstersmom]

MeggieNRoxie,


I'm also very sorry you're going through this. No personal experience either, but I do know of a few positive outcomes. Several years ago we picked up a little pom puppy from one of those Petsmart Rescue things. We actually picked him up for a friend, and he was her first dog. He seemed perfectly healthy. We were given a number to call to have his medical records forwarded and when we did, we learned that he had just recovered from parvo. I was shocked, because he was such a busy, active, tiny little 12 week old pup! Twelve years later she still has him and he's still a small, happy, energetic pup.


Your yorkie is in the best place he can be at the vet's office and is getting the supportive care he needs. I'll say a little prayer for quick healing.


Irresponsible breeders make me so angry. There is no reason you should have to be going through this. And like others said, I fear you're on your own with it. I doubt this "breeder" is going to step up and take responsibility, Your pup is very lucky to have landed in your lap where he at least stands a chance to recover. Please keep us posted on how he's doing.


Diana

[Dayswalters]

When I was 15 I was given a Pekinese-poodle mix because he had been born with a birth defect. His rib cage did not close completely in the front. The person did not want to care for him and he became my "Peanut" because with his birth defect, that's just what he looked like. A few weeks later he became very ill and when I took him to the vet, they said he had Parvo. This was in 1984 when Parvo had an almost 100% mortality rate. The vet said he would not make it because he had so much already against him. I took him home and talked to my mom. She told me we could only do what we would do for any of our sick animals (I lived in a farm). He received honey and water every two hours, we eventually added in vitamins to the mix along with rice water and homemade chicken broth. For two weeks, I though he would die. He was so weak he could not lift his head or go to the bathroom on his own. Then one day he lifted his head to look at me when I came to feed him and his tail flopped up and down twice. I had hope! We began adding some mushed chicken and veggies to his mix and he got stronger. After two months he was running around and playing with our other dog. He never grew another inch. His paws and ears stayed too big for his body and his coat grew long in some place and short in other but he was the most loving dog I ever had. He lived to be 12 years old. Complications from his birth defect were what took his life. I'll pray for your baby. As a vet once told me, "Love can do things that medicine cannot."

[ChibiLuv]

I'm so sorry! Parvo is awful. I would contact the breeder, if you only got her 2 days ago she had it before she got to you.

[MeggieNRoxie]

I have contacted the co-breeder, but the breeder herself hasn't responded yet. She was going on vacation and had her pups sent to her co-breeder though, so that may be why I'm getting radio silence. The health guarantee says that I have two days to return a sick pup and that the breeder isn't responsible for vet bills. No refunds are given, just a replacement pup. I don't want to send my little lady away to die though, only to be given another puppy that has been exposed to parvo. And she's already at the animal hospital, so I'm on the hook for the cost.

I'm reading that tamiflu helps when started early, so I'm going to call the vet and request that.

[MeggieNRoxie]

I called, and the vet says she doesn't use tamiflu because it hasn't made a difference in their recovery rates. She said my pup (still nameless.. I didn't have time to decide on a name before she got sick) had had a few more diarrhea episodes, but no more vomiting yet, and she seems to be in good spirits. She slowly wobbles to the front of the cage to see what's going on when the vet techs walk past.

She is on iv fluids to combat dehydration, and she is being given some anti nausea meds, dewormer, and antibiotics to prevent secondary infections. They're going to check her blood sugar later since she is so tiny and hasn't eaten. She is only 26 ounces, so she really doesn't have resources to tap into. I'm worried that she will be reduced to skin and bones soon.

[Yorkiemom1]

Our unfortunate events in our lives are all teaching/learning experiences. THIS is an unfortunate, but vital learning experience for anyone buying a Yorkie.......allow that pup to reach AT LEAST 12 weeks of age....a reputable, responsible breeder WILL NOT dump puppies earlier than that because THEY want to be responsible/accountable for their puppy's health! My babies go out fully vaccinated except rabies shots and with a health guarantee....NOT a "two day return policy". This is not unique to me....this is what ALL responsible, caring, reputable breeders do! All of us that worry and adore and truly care about our babies produced, want our babies to live long, healthy lives and we go the extra mile and EXTRA EXPENSE to be absolutely certain our babies are the healthiest they possibly can be.

I am praying your little one survives this devastating disease. If caught early, Tamiflu is effective treatment,but many vets have never used it for this purpose and will not do it. If pup does survive, there can be lasting, lifelong issues you will have to deal with. Years ago, when I had people coming and going in and out of my house, bringing diseases picked up from other dog breeders/sick puppies/trashy dirty yards, looking at my little babies, handling my precious little babies, then moving on down the road to God-Only-Knows-Where to see and handle the next litter of pups, I had an entire 6 week old litter come down with parvo. It almost destroyed my business.....all my babies in that litter except one, survived, at a HUGE expense for me.....well over $40,000.00 to save those babies, and my entire home had to be treated/"sterilized/washed down with Virkon....carpet all removed, all my furniture that had a fabric upholstery discarded and replaced with leather, all toys, bedding, etc....and my business shut down for almost 2 years while I continually sprayed my entire premises with Virkon.....THAT is when I talked to professional breeders, show breeders, that told me, you do NOT allow "tire kickers" onto your premisis, looking and handling all your precious babies, after they have been all over God only knows where, handling and touching God only knows how many sick/contaminated puppies......and that was indeed the end of visitation here at Rosehill. This entire property is closed down tight as a hat band, including other family members, when I have puppies on this property. NO ONE comes to this house to look at puppies until they have had their SECOND vaccination at 11 weeks....then they come only as far as my entry hall that has rugs down that have been sprayed with Virkon. Any and all workers/repair men, walk thru a solution of Virkon, including workers that come to my back yard. .....

When you go looking for a puppy, please remember you and every other person in the world, looking for a puppy, has been there, looking and handling those babies, carrying every disease they have walked thru and picked up on their feet and hands, and have now contaminated completely unprotected babies. Pups have a weak protection against disease, acquired from their mother up until 8 weeks of age, when vaccinations can be effectively started, but it is NOT enough to provide a barrier strong enough to fight off the bombardment of disease germs carried by dozens of people handling and playing and fooling with puppies in all kinds of homes/yards/puppy mills/etc.

A breeder that ACTUALLY is more concerned with her puppies health, rather than selling a dog and collecting $$$$$, wants to be absolutely certain her babies are as healthy as they possibly can be, and she is confident that when she sends that baby to a new home, that baby is disease free and will NOT die from a preventable disease SHE should have protected against! I am praying you are at least able to find/contact that "breeder" than took your money and dumped a sick puppy on you. If your baby does survive this disease, there can be other issues caused by the parvo virus....I kept the entire litter of precious little babies that I fought so hard to save, because I did not want to sell a puppy that may come down with any health/ heart issues years later because of the parvo virus they had fought so hard to survive. I feel I was responsible for those babies getting parvo, so I would be responsible for them for the rest of their lives.

I am praying for your precious little soul....if caught early enough, Tamiflu IS indeed effective against the virus.....alot of vets wont go there because it is NOT what that drug is for, but it DOES work and alot of breeders will INSIST on their vets giving this if the parvo is caught early enough......most vets that know their breeders will be much more comfortable working hand and hand with their breeders because they know WE know what we are talking about. My vet, Dr. Wickle, and the vets in that practice, worked their butts off to save that litter of puppies....she held and prayed over each puppy at least once a day, we did accupuncture, we did fractionated dosing of meds that "may work" against parvo, we did blood transfusions from an adult golden retriever that was protected against the disease, to provide antibodies to the babies.... they worked their butts off to save that litter for me and they succeeded....except one tiny little precious soul! Today, all those babies are still here with me....the only side effect from that bout with parvo to date, is tear duct dysfunction in one eye of one of the males.......everyone else has remained healthy.....

I pray your baby survives this disease....I am not sure your vet is open to suggestions for treating the disease, as she was not receptive to the Tamiflu suggestion (and this med does work if given early enough in the disease!).....aggressive, proactive treatment along with treating symptoms as they occur, worked for us.....hoping your vet is aggressive with the course of action and her treatment plan for this baby, rather than just treating symptoms as they occur. Praying for a successful outcome for you!

[Russpilot]

Just sending prayers for your precious little one. May God bring her through this and give you the wonderful little pup she deserves the chance to be. Though, I have to agree that bringing one home so young is going to almost always be full of perils.

[MeggieNRoxie]

I agree.. 8 weeks is too young. I would have been okay with 10, preferably 12, but 8 really made me nervous. My other gal was 18 weeks when she came home with me. But, better for this pup to be with me than someone else who could potentially not seek the best of care for her.

I was able to visit her this evening and share some snuggles with her. She seems to be doing okay, as far as parvo goes at least. She could still turn the corner and head downhill, but for being on day 2 of having parvo, it could be a lot worse. The vet said she stopped vomiting, and actually started eating a little bit! The diarrhea is still in full force, but at least it isn't bloody.. yet. She's on the IV still, getting fluids and various meds.

[MeggieNRoxie]

Yorkiemom1, thank you for sharing your experience. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that! I've always been pretty blasé about who comes into my house, but now I'm completely paranoid. I went to the grocery store today, and all I could think was, "I wonder how many of these people have parvo on their shoes? Which carts have parvo on the handles? I need to pee, but should I really be touching those bathroom stall handles?" Ugh!

I don't have any virkon, and I know bleach isn't always effective, but I've been bleaching my house all day long. I have a geriatric yorkie, and even though she is vaccinated, I worry that her immune system isn't what it used to be. If she falls sick with parvo, I'll lose my ever loving mind.

[lillymae]

I will be Praying for this tiny pup. IF your other dog starts to show ANY symptoms get her to the vet ASAP, even in the middle of the night or weekend. IF your other dog does get sick, she's been fully vaccinated so should be ok. In fact vets will often just give meds to prevent secondary infections & send the dog rite home & most often the dog is fine in just a couple of days so try not to stress too much over that. My friend just went through Parvo with her Doxie pup @ 9 wks old & he pulled through quickly as she took him to the vet within a few hrs of getting him for free out of a box of puppies in front of a grocery store. So there is hope that your baby will make it through this ugly thing. Again, Praying for this baby.

[XenaLee]

This sounds really scary. I hope your puppy pulls through. Let us know how things are when you can. I'll be keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers.