"Heads up" for those who rescue younger pups...

April 2006

(* additional comments by Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee after a bout in July, 2006)

We had a bad outbreak this past week of a virus, we assumed Parvo as it's one of those "walks like a duck" things, however, it was not parvo.  We were unsure as to whether they would survive. We treated it as parvo, but it is not. Major antibiotics, sub Q fluids, etc.

Early detection is imperative and this is what it started as:

1. Puppy gets "quiet", but not lethargic-upon noticing that, we took his temp. it was 101.8, so, only a "slight" elevation.

* Our mixed pup showed signs of severe depression.  The Boston pup continued to play like a puppy.

2. Stool "slightly loose" but nothing major. Very small amount of clear vomiting. (We immediately started tamiflu)

* Clear "drool" shows up as well on the pup's front feet and legs.

3. The following morning the puppy would not eat and had started a "snotty" discharge in his stool, slightly blood tinged-but again, nothing "major"

* Emphasize "snotty" discharge.  Not running at all until the disease progresses.

4. Dehydration began. (we took pup to vet and started him on sub q fluids) (also, the whole time, puppy was still active, bright eyed, etc)

5 Vet tested for parasites-NONE FOUND-(puppy continuing to not eat or drink, clear vomiting and all around, failing quickly)

6. Pup's demeanor began to change to being slightly lethargic. Full bloody stool, severe dehydration, again-not parvo, tested negative. Still fighting injection and anything by mouth with an enormous amount of strength.

7. Litter-mate broke with it-same slow onset. She was still barking in her cage and jumping, etc-but followed suit 100% to first puppy.

Our vet did antibiotic overload, a few different "cocktails", we continued tamiflu and are doing sub Q at home 2X a day. The second one to break with it is recovering a bit "quicker" than the first, but she was "stronger" initially than he. 

* We added amoxicillin, 250 mg once daily for each pup.

We've heard a handful of opinions; new strain of corona, new strain of parvo, canine flu but, regardless of what it is "actually"- 

Please watch your pups, this seems a bit "sneakier" than parvo and because they do continue to "play" it's difficult to 100% tell if they're drinking their water or playing in it. There is not a single doubt in my mind that IF my dogs were not put on fluids, etc, asap.. they would be dead. They look awful right now because NOW they are awfully thin from not eating. Cheerios and Chicken and Rice baby food is the first thing that they have been able to actually "take-in" on their own and that was this am. 

Also, we mixed peanut butter and warm water and syringed it to them p.o. through the last few days.

Thanks for info kindly Provided by Stephanie at Hounds for Hugs.com at http://www.hugsforhounds.com/ and http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/SC171.html