[WiggleWagglePup]

Originally Posted by kjc

I've never heard of anyone vaccinaitng a pup at 5 1/2 weeks. That vaccine was most likely destroyed by the maternal antibodies passed on to the pups after birth through the colostrum (first milk).

He was sick when you got him. Good chance he was sick the day before when she vaccinated him. Another good chance that vaccine was destroyed by the antibodies floating around in his system from his illness. (This is why one doesn't vaccinate sick pups or dogs).

Even though the vaccine was most likely destroyed and will not be able to produce the correct antibodies against disease, it is still capable of putting the pup's immune system into action. This reaction will prolong any illness the pup already harbored, and the pup will not begin to fully recover until the vaccine immune response has ended (one month after receiving the vaccine), and the original antibodies that were produced by the pup for his original illness can regroup and fight off the infection (as they have been fighting the vaccine and the illness, which keeps him alive, but doesn't make him better).

On May 19, I think you will begin to see marked improvement in his health. From each day on he will improve a little bit more than the day before.

IMVHO, I would give him at least one full month for his immune system to recover, before he begins his vaccination series again. He will only need 2 sets of vaccines, as he will be older, and the maternal antibodies will definitely be gone from his system.

During that time, you must keep him safe. No down on the floors in the vet's office or PetSmart or anywhere. In your arms when he is not in your house!

This is what I would do:

One month and one week to get better and get some weight on, then his DHPP(only)(19 weeks old), then wait 4 weeks and get 2nd DHPP(23 weeks old), then wait 4 weeks and get 1st Rabies(27 or 32 weeks old). Then when he is one year old, get DHPP Booster, then wait 4 weeks and get Rabies Booster.

Everyone on YT have been so helpful and I don't know what I would do without everyone here. I truly can not express how much I appreciate eveyone for their prayers, kind words, information, and advice... All of you are my little Angels sent to me from above for Wiley!!!

I will take the advice about above vaccinations. I am also going to set up an x ray for Wiley because I have this gut feeling there is more wrong than I think. There is NO WAY I COULD EVER GIVE WILEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!
We have been together since day one... many sleepless nights... nursing him back to health... I felt terrible every time I would have to force his little mouth open and slowly syringe food in letting him swollow after every little squirt. He would just hate it and actually would try to go the other way when I tried to pick him up because he knew it was feeding time. I feel so bad, but I knew it was best for him because he wasn't eating. Now, Wiley and I are close and it is me he wants if someone else is holding him. It is me he runs to and gives kisses to each morning. I would never put him back in the arms of who made him so sick in the first place. Makes me sick to know that there are people out there like this. When I look back at the very day I got him... I want to just slap myself for not taking him in to a vet that very moment in that city where I picked him up. You wouldn't believe the state he was in. He was a walking skeleton of bones with hair. I was afraid to even move him in my arms for the fear of his bones breaking. I could literally feel EVERY bone in his body that made his frame. I remember feeling his neck and there was no muscle around it like other dogs would feel... just bone.

I have two shih tzu's in the home which worry me. I am assuming I should keep Wiley away from them??? They are up to date on all vaccinations and healthy.