What we have come up with is sometimes he was a "greedy eater" and some of the fluids must have entered his lungs, then the infection set in over a peroid of time. And that is why he went down so fast. It was his labored breathing that caught my eye first, then upon examing him I saw his dehyration and knew we had to move fast...Thank you for the suggestion of getting to the bottom of this.> snip
Oh yes I have had that happen to a tiny puppy! I wonder if it's because they are so small and in their haste to "get their share" they suck the food down into the windpipe. Doesn't need to be much to set up an infection. I worry anytime I see the food stuck to the nose. Always means they may have inhaled it. Just be aware treatment is sometimes very long. It seems to take forever to clear the lungs of the fluid or food (?) matter but you probably already know that. I mentioned the doggy flu because of the Katrina and Rita victims. Some of the dogs traveled far and wide to other shelters. Some have fallen victim to what is known as the doggy flu. It seems the dogs do not have to be exposed to this terrible flu to get it. Some of the shelter workers took it home to their dogs on their clothes or shoes. Some vets at the Grey hound race tracks have found the treatment of choice to be Tami-flu. I know a couple of breeder friends who convinced their vet to treat their puppies with pneumonia like symptoms with Tami-Flu and all recovered nicely. It's an off label treatment tho....not approved for canines. Just a tidbit in information. I'm glad you caught it in a timely manner. That should make all the difference in his recovery. |