My dog Timmy died from Parvo on Xmas Eve 07 & my other dog Jack is being treated for Parvo, as I speak now.?

Question

Christmas 2007 has been horrible. Timmy, my beautiful Golden Retriver/German Sheppard, 1.5 yrs old, died on Monday the 24th of December 2007 from Parvovirus. We noticed on 21/12/2007 that Timmy was vommiting and had bloody diarehea and was totally out of it (it was horrible). We rushed him straight to an after hours vet in Blacktown, where I must say, the Vet was horrible to him. Timmy was such a beautiful, loving and kind natured dog. My other equally beautiful dog Jack, 2 yrs old, a mixed breed of Fox Terrior and Cattle Dog, was rushed today at 3.00am (26/12/07) to Baulkham Hills Emergency Vet. Jack is now too being treated after his test was positive for Parvo. It has been a horrible chain of events over the last 5 days, please send your good wishes to Jack, as I don't know what to do anymore. PLEASE, if you have a dog of ANY age, and it has not been vacinated and you are in Blacktown (a Parvo area) please go and get it done now! I love you Timmy & Jack, please make it through bud.

I have read all your comments so far, and it is really helping me (I will show my fiancé too, it'll help him). Thanks for wishing my Jack luck. I find myself wondering how and why this happened to mine and my fiancés 2 best friends in the world. They were like brothers, Timmy and Jack, they were inseparable at all times. It's so hard. The vet is stumped as to how 2 healthy dogs, both of whom have had no other contact with other dogs in the past month, even got Parvo, let alone died? Except, that it may have been in the ground in our yard from years ago. Moonstruck & suzy49 & Majestik moose – I’m sorry to hear about your losses, really I am, hopefully my little golden Timmy is up there in a better place, free from pain, and they are all running and bouncing around together. That’s the only thing that gets me through the tears for Timmy. Timmy was in so much pain, I could see it in his eyes, he was trying so hard to fight it, to come home to Jack and us. I love you Timmy and Jack Jack!

Wednesdaymourning – I really wish that all vets were as passionate and caring about animals as you. The vet we went to in Blacktown (happened to be the first after hours vet that we phoned in our panic on Friday night), I can’t help but wonder, if we had taken Timmy to a different vet, would he have made it? She didn’t even test Timmy for Parvo, nor give him an injection of anti-vomiting medicine or an injection for pain relief? Is that normal to just give fluids and antibiotics shots? How is the body supposed to stop losing fluids? There are so many “what if’s” about this vet, and my poor baby Timmy paid the price, it really makes me want to raise a complaint, so that other people’s pets are not treated this way. Unfortunately, that night when we took him in, admittedly, that was the first vet I have ever been to, and I thought that she was doing all she could, now knowing that this is not the case. Jack is at a different vet, of course. I know Timmy and Jack appreciate your thoughts!

MSAD - Thanks for your advice. I am writing these messages in between bleaching everything I can & throwing away anything that can't be bleached. Next I will move onto the yard, and spray some bleach everywhere, front yard first, as I would hate for someone else's dog to catch this horrible virus. It's helping me keep my mind off everything that has happened (sort of). I just want Jack to be okay, he is tough little dog I know, Timmy wasn't as tough as Jack (not because he passed away, but his personality was more caucious and kind, you know) and I'm hoping that you, me and everyone else who spears a good wish or even just a passing thought for Jack & Timmy, will help Jack get through it, and fight it. We love you Jack and Timmy, very much, no matter what and forever and ever. Timmy, I hope you are having fun, bouding through the long grass where you are, your golden coat and your fuzzy ears flapping around, you will always be special Timmy. Jack, know that people are wishing you well!

Hi all. It has been the longest 1.5 weeks of my life, and the most depressing and sad, but I am happy to report that we have finally got Jack back from the vets, and he is very much okay, but still having the occaissional vomit, but is okay. He misses Timmy, we can tell. We miss Timmy so much too, and still can't believe he is no longer with us. It's so hard to come to terms with as it happened so fast and suddenly. But we are greatul that Jack is still here, as this virus could have easily taken both. It's hard, and I suppose it will be for a very long time to come. We love you Timmy, and we will think of you always, and never forget you are our little golden boy, always happy and smiling. You always make me smile Tim. We miss you so much buddy. I would like to thank you all for wishing Jack well and praying for him, as it worked! Thanks everyone, and I hope 2008 brings you and your entire families health and happiness.

Answer 1

I feel for you,what a sad story.
Be strong & I will be praying for Jack.
Take care,x

Edit: Majestic moose i hope your pups pull through too!
I will be think of all you guys:(

Answer 2

i just got back from vacation last week and i had a whole litter of pups, and a chi boarded at a vet office. My personal dog i was keeping from this litter died , not from parvo, but from the treatment its self, on friday, within an hour of starting treatment. They didn't notify me until i went in to pick them up yesterday. They assured me the other pups were vibrant, and not showing any signs-but i got home, pulled them out of their carrier, and they were all little skeletons, they dropped several pounds each, they are all vomiting, and no one has eaten since sunday night. I am giving sub-q fluids at home, and they are holding out. Another died this morning. The kennel won't contact me, and there is a lawsuit pending.
so i feel your pain. These other pups are trying so hard to make it.
vaccinated, or unvaccinated, it doesn't matter. The vaccine only protects against one strain, that changes every year, btu the vaccine doesn't. So your dog is protected against a strain of parvo that hasn't existed in years.
If your dog is immune, it is immune. vaccinating has nothing to do with that. Likewise, if your dog isn't immune, it will get parvo whether you vaccinate or not. You can't make an animal MORE immune, it just doesn't work like that. Oddly enough, parvo vaccinations cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, even death.just the thing we are trying to prevent.

ADD: Do some research on vaccinosis. It shows not only are vaccines ineffective, they can be downright dangerous to your dog. Most vets aren't this vet, i realize that. I was merely comparing our situations, the poster said the vet treated his dog horribly.

Answer 3

I work in an animal clinic and see the horrors of Parvo every day. =( I will certainly keep your Jack in my thoughts, best of luck to him. I've seen so many wonderful dogs and puppies pass away from this horrible virus, so now I'm doing everything I can to educate people about the importance of keeping their pets vaccinations up to date.

Majestik moose, sounds like you had quite an awful experience. Though I hope you realize that not all vet clinics are like that. As many dogs as I've seen pass away from Parvo since working in one, I've seen just as many make it through and become happy and healthy. We take the best possible care of our Parvo babies that come in to be treated. And I'm not sure what your sources are but I wonder where you're getting that the vaccine is useless.

Answer 4

Parvo can live in the ground/home for a long time after the dog has had it. Make sure that you clean your home really well - mop the floors with a bleach/water solution.

Heres some information I found on the net:

"If your pet becomes infected, please keep in mind that dogs with parvo shed the virus in their feces and are extremely contagious to other dogs. Follow these recommendations to help prevent the spread of this disease.

* Keep the infected dog isolated from all other dogs for at least one month after full recovery.

* Clean up all the dog's stools in your yard.

* Use a 1:30 ratio of chlorine bleach and water to clean food and water bowls (4 oz. in 1 gallon of water). Wash any bedding the dog has been in contact with in this same bleach solution and hot water. You should also try to disinfect any other areas that the dog has been, like linoleum, concrete kennels, crates, etc.

* If you have any other dogs that are two years old or younger, or who have never been vaccinated for parvo, please bring them in for a booster as soon as possible.

* Be sure to feed your dog a bland diet, such as Canine Prescription i/d, until he is fully recovered. When switching back to his normal diet, mix the regular food with the i/d for 2-3 days to help your pet gradually adjust to the change.

What If I've got Parvo in my home?

If you have had parvo in your home, use a strong bleach/water solution to kill it. Soak the yard with it -- better to kill the grass than your next dog! Be careful using it on carpets and fabrics, though. Parvo can live up to 6 months or so in your home or yard. Before you bring home another dog, be sure it has a strong immunity to parvo. You can have a veterinarian draw blood and run a titre to find out how well your prospective dog will fare in a parvo-infected environment. Adult dogs generally have a higher resistance than puppies do, but they need to be kept current on their vaccines. If in doubt, have your vet do the titre. "

http://workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm


Here's some other web sites I found:

http://www.lbah.com/canine/parvo.html#prevention

http://www.auspet.com/forum/about4344.html

Answer 5

I am SO SORRY to hear about your dogs. Parvo is a horrible, devastating illness and it can kill an unvaccinated dog within hours. I really hope that Jack survives. Early treatment and supportive care gives him the best shot at making it through, so he does have a chance.

I've lost puppies from Parvo and I know how heartbreaking it is. You've done everything you can, so just say a prayer and cross your fingers.

This is a sad, but important reminder of how important it is to vaccinate your dogs against the most prevalent dog diseases. Their shots are literally lifesaver. Find out about the shots your puppy/dog needs at http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/puppy-shots.html you can also learn more about Parvo and the other most common , infectious dog illnesses at http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/dog-illnesses.html

Best of luck , I hope Jack makes it!

Answer 6

I know your loss, my Montana Rottweiler died Nov.1 07, he was 10 years old & 3 months. I had to put him down, he was bleeding internally we don't know how or why. I live alone, he was my last rottie. I grieve for you. I hope your other dog pulls thru ..I'll say a prayer. You need to wash EVERYTHING in your house with a bleach & water mixtur. Bleach is the only thing to kill the virus in your house, wash all the dogs bedding esp. their food & water bowls, where ever they were wash the floors, every thing.keep praying for Jack.

Answer 7

What a horrible thing to happen any time of the year, my heart goes out to you and Jack. I will pray that he makes it through. I had a dog a few years back that had parvo, and he made it through. Hopefully Jack Willl to. I will keep you both in my prayers.

Answer 8

Im sorry all that happened. I hope your pets will feel better. I hope your Christmas will be good, despite this unfortunate event. Good luck...