Need to vent about Biscuit...

[erinlovesmarc]

I'm sure some/most of you saw pictures of my little puppy Biscuit that we got last Sunday...I'm just here to vent because I'm really upset... :( ...to make a long story short Wednesday we brought him to the vet to get a check-up and the vet said our puppy was in perfect health...he got a couple of vaccines including the de-worming meds...on thursday he started getting diarrhea and he had a few drops of blood in his stool...we immediately called the vet who told us that it was because of the de-worming meds which is what we figured...after that he got progressively worse but we figured that once the meds were finished (Sunday) that he would be back to normal...I mean, a vet knows what they're talking about, right?...well...yesteday he really started worrying us...he was sleeping all day, didn't want to eat, wasn't drinking, didn't want to play...Marc called the vet in the morning who told us to wait 48 hours and see what happens!!! Of course, at this point we're upset but figure we must be overreacting if the vet is telling us to wait that long...but in the evening there was ALOT of blood in his stool so I told Marc that we were taking him to emergency vet hospital ASAP...the vet "there" told us it was a good thing we brought him in because he was severely dyhydrated and he thinks he might have parvovirus!!! :( They said they had to keep him overnight and they had him on an IV...I was just so upset...for one because if he does in fact have parvovirus he will have to have him put to sleep because it costs $2000-$4000 to treat and there are no guarantees and they suffer and die within weeks and I was also angry at the original vet who thought our puppy was FINE and not to panic! Of course, the vet at emergency also said it could be a parasite (which is easily treatable) or a foreign object like a rock but we have to wait for the test results this afternoon...I think I'm just upset over alot of things right now....the biggest reason of course is that I love him to death already and I'm so attached, even if it's only been a week...just of the thought of having to put him to sleep is enough to make me start crying all over again... :(

[Gracie]

((((((((((Erin))))))))))))))

Please try, try, try not to worry until you get the test results. Biscuit may be just fine. And please post once you know the results - we are here for you.

Loren

P.S. I hope you received my response to your email that we are swap partners! I'll put something extra special in your package! :)

[sneezles]

Erin,
I'm so very sorry to hear about Biscuit! Hope that it's not parvovirus and he'll be home chewing on shoes very soon!

[mcgeiger]

1st--Parvo is NOT a death sentence and shouldn't be $4000 to treat.
2nd--If he has Parvo now he caught it before vaccines
3rd--puppies often are tired, and have diarrhea in a new home, NOT saying that the vet shouldn't have listened
4th-I PMd you

[AZLorena]

Where did you get this puppy? Was it from a rescue or a breeder? He should have been tested for parvo at either one of these places. Just so you know, a diagnosis of parvo does not necessarily mean a death sentence. I also don't think the treatment should be that expensive. When I worked in animal rescue we had a few dogs go through our foster system with parvo and I don't remember the treatment being quite that pricey......I would maybe call around about that one. In addition, our friends just took in a puppy that was found in a Walmart parking lot. She ended up having a touch of parvo and they had her treated....I am pretty sure that they would not have been able to keep her if the treatment was that expensive. They didn't mention anything of the sort when we were over for dinner the other night. I guess what I am trying to say is don't freak out just yet. Call around for some 2nd opinions on cost....including animal rescues (they might be able to steer you to a vet or two that will work for reduced cost.)

Good luck,
Lorena

[erinlovesmarc]

((((((((((Erin))))))))))))))

Please try, try, try not to worry until you get the test results. Biscuit may be just fine. And please post once you know the results - we are here for you.

Loren

P.S. I hope you received my response to your email that we are swap partners! I'll put something extra special in your package! :)

Hi Loren, I got your email! I've already started shopping...I went out to get some goodies yesterday! :D Sorry I didn't email you back yet, as you can see I've been a little under the weather since my puppy is not feeling well :( ...by the way, I meant to ask you if you ski at Owl's Head or is it some other hill? It's so funny that you ski up here...I've skiing in the townships since I'm 7 years old! Í haven't been in awhile though...like 2 years because of the renovations on our house and planning the wedding...I'm itching to go back!

[erinlovesmarc]

1st--Parvo is NOT a death sentence and shouldn't be $4000 to treat.
2nd--If he has Parvo now he caught it before vaccines
3rd--puppies often are tired, and have diarrhea in a new home, NOT saying that the vet shouldn't have listened
4th-I PMd you

are you a vet?

[mcgeiger]

not yet ;)
Give me about 600 days or so...

[tyroleancutie]

Oh No! I am so sorry to read this :(

I know how hard it is to deal with Parvo, since we had to deal with it about 1.5 years ago :( (I won't write about details now) I keep my fingers crossed that Biscuit will be fine and the test will get back negative.

[lindrusso]

Oh my.

I thought I'd be opening a thread about Biscuit chewing up your favorite pair of shoes or something along those lines. :(

Hope everything turns out okay for your sweet little pup.

Alysha

[erinlovesmarc]

Where did you get this puppy? Was it from a rescue or a breeder? He should have been tested for parvo at either one of these places. Just so you know, a diagnosis of parvo does not necessarily mean a death sentence. I also don't think the treatment should be that expensive. When I worked in animal rescue we had a few dogs go through our foster system with parvo and I don't remember the treatment being quite that pricey......I would maybe call around about that one. In addition, our friends just took in a puppy that was found in a Walmart parking lot. She ended up having a touch of parvo and they had her treated....I am pretty sure that they would not have been able to keep her if the treatment was that expensive. They didn't mention anything of the sort when we were over for dinner the other night. I guess what I am trying to say is don't freak out just yet. Call around for some 2nd opinions on cost....including animal rescues (they might be able to steer you to a vet or two that will work for reduced cost.)

Good luck,
Lorena

We got him from a breeder...although you can definitely tell that Biscuit and his parents are pure breed, the breeder did not have papers and he did not keep track of health records...thinking about it now and and reading up on it on the book we bought about Labs we should have bought our puppy from a breeder with papers...we would have paid more but at least we would have had some health guarantees and would have known if there were any gene problems...I guess you learn these things with experience...we should have done our homework first! I know it is not for sure that he has parvo but we spoke about that possibility with the vet at the emergency hospital in case the tests come out positive for it...I almost fainted when he said the price to treat parvo...how much does it usually cost? I will definitely call around if his tests are positive!

[Beth]

Sending hugs and prayers for Biscuit and you.

DH had a dog that had parvo and lived when he was young. The ability to help pups now muct be better, but better yet would be something far less scary. Let us know when you here soemthing. ((( )))

Don't kick yourself -- you got her checked out and were trying to do the right things. We got Coco from a family that had a fence blown down during Hurricane Rita and just needed to find homes for 9 puupies. We knew her mom was a yellow lab and little else. I didn't know then about their potential hip and leg problems or geneology -- we just brought our baby home with no food, dishes or toys waiting for her (I did go out first thing the next morning). The boys even took her over to our neighbors and I had walked her a couple of times before we could get her into the vet for shots all of a day and a half later -- and I nearly died when the vet told me to keep her at home until all the vaccinations were given. I got the warnings about parvo and panicked because our neighbors had lost a dog not too long before and the virus would still be in the house and yard. It was a very long few hours before I was able to confirm that their puppy had distemper, not parvo, and that distemper does not linger. We've been pretty lucky so far, but we were not terribly smart about our puppyhood. You've certainly tried and you took her in to get help. You're doing the right things.

[erinlovesmarc]

GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS! :D

My husband just spoke to the vet at the emergency hospital and the tests came back negative for parvo!!! They did a stool test & a blood test and they tested them twice - he's not even a carrier! Poor thing does have parasites though and he is still being treated for dehydration...he needs to stay over one more night! I'm so happy!

Thanks guys for helping me to stay calm...it was very tough this morning being at work with sick Biscuit on my mind!

[Dfen911]

Wow first I was so sad at reading about Biscuit and just felt awful for you..then I get to the end of this post and it was a like a breath of fresh air! I am so happy he's on the road to recovery :) What a horrible scare to have to go thru though. I hope you called your regular vet and told him he won't be treating Biscuit anymore.

[AZLorena]

I can understand your stress.....I have been there many times with our foster cats and our own cats. I am so happy for your that biscuit doesn't have parvo. I have been reading up on it in the mean time for you........and it seems that the major load of the treatment cost is having the animal at the vet for fluids. For you future reference.......fluids can be administered at home. If you ever get into that situation with your baby again (I certainly hope that you don't) just know that sub-q fluids are easy to administer and that most vets will show you how to do it.

I am so happy that you will not have to this time and that Biscuit will be okay. I know that is a load off your mind.

Lorena

[PoppyJ]

Thank goodness!!! That is great news about Biscuit. What a relief. My MIL just had a poodle litter and half of them came down with parvo and she ended up losing two. It is very serious problem, but not a death sentence. Please take care of Biscuit and be very careful about taking him anywhere for the first four month.

If you have any questions about labs, feel free to PM me. I grew up with a household full of them since my mom is a lab breeder and judge.

And please give Biscuit lots of love and biscuits :p from my three labbies.

[swquilts]

Erin, what great news! Our Chesapeake had a parvo-like virus when he was 6 months old. Five days at the emergency vet hospital and $3000 later he was almost good as new. I did take a couple of days off and fed him cooked plain ground turkey and Pedialite for the dehydration.

Biscuit will be up and around in no time!

[Wendy w]

Great news! :)

[erinlovesmarc]

Any idea how dogs get parasites? Do I need to take any precautions?

[Beth]

I think most parasites probably come from something they have eaten (off the ground or less likely, contaminated food) or drinking from puddles.

So glad to hear Biscuit is going to be fine. As for administering fluids at home, DH had to do it with a cat before I met him and we had to do it for one of our cats. It is pretty simple, but that was to prevent dehydration or treat mild dehydration. Dehydration can cause a lot of serious complications, so the vet probably wants to keep Biscuit to make sure she gets through the danger. Doesn't hurt to ask about it.

[colleency]

(((Biscuit and Erin and Marc)))

[Varaile]

I am sooo glad to hear everything worked out for the better! :)

It is my understanding that when pups are as small as Biscuit is, they get them from their Dam. Both our pups came home with worms - one was a barn pup and the other was raised in an ultra clean home. Tho the barn pup had them a lot worse than the other. :eek:

[Gracie]

I'm so glad everything worked out! He'll be chewing shoes, furniture and books anytime now and you'll be venting for a different reason! :D

Loren

[lindrusso]

I'm so glad everything worked out! He'll be chewing shoes, furniture and books anytime now and you'll be venting for a different reason! :D


What Loren said! :D Hurray!

[erinlovesmarc]

I think he's already back to his old self!!! Marc just called me to tell me that he brought him home in between picking him up at the vet emergency hospital and dropping him off at another vet (cheaper) and he had the cone thing on his head and he still had the wrap around his leg for the IV and he was STILL trying to jump on the couch...he was falling all over the place because of the cone but at least he was jumping around! :D

[ChristyMarie]

Very good news!!!

[LakeMartinGal]

Oh! I'm so relieved for all of you! What a load off all our minds, and off your heart! Of course, they invented the saying "sick puppy" because those little guys look so absolutely pitiful when they are ill...

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g185/kaydeis/whew.gif

[Lauren]

Good news! How scary. Hugs to you, DH and biscuit! :D

[mbrogier]

I'm so glad Biscuit is doing so much better. I hope he continues to improve. :)

[JJeannette]

Erin, most breeders/vet will tell you to just assume that a puppy/kitten has parasites and get them wormed right away. They can be born with parasites if the mother has them---. Good breeders will start worming puppies as early as 4 weeks with a regular schedule until the baby goes to it's new home.

And for future reference--always watch for dehydration in a young animal if they have vomiting/derrhea--it doesn't take very long. One way to check is to pull gently up on the scruff of the neck and watch how quickly it returns to it's normal position--if it seems slow, the animal is probably dehydrated.

[mcgeiger]

So here are the basics of Parvo:
Parvo is a virus that probably derived from a feline virus (that doesn't cause the same disease). It appeared in the late 70s (1978 I think) and quickly spread worldwide. Vaccines were developed and work very well, when given properly. Parvo vaccines are usually included in the 3/4/5 way vaccine given at approximately 8, 12, and 16 weeks, and then yearly/every third year.
Parvo infects the replicating cells in the intestines and kills them. This causes nasty diarrhea, along with the "Parvo smell". It also leads to severe, severe dehydration, (due to both loss of water and inability to absorb it). The loss of the cell barrier allows secondary infections of bacteria. It takes 3-7 days for the lining to start to regrow.
The treatment for Parvo usually includes IV fluids (for a variety of reasons, the subcutaneous fluids will not be enough), antibiotics for secondary infections, and can include stomach protectants, anti-diarrheal, anti-emetic (vomiting), electrolytes, etc.
Depending on where treated, recovery rates for Parvo can approach 90%.

Basics on parasites:
Puppies and kittens can get multiple types of parasites. They can get these parasites before birth (even if the mother has been dewormed in the past, parasites can "hibernate" in the muscles, and come out during preganancy), or from the mother's milk. Of course they can also get these parasites from each other, other animals, etc.
Our teaching hospitals recommends deworming around 4 weeks (slightly different for puppies and kittens) and then again every three weeks (this is because of the life cycle of the worms) until around 16 weeks, WHETHER OR NOT A FECAL EXAM IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. This is especially true for households with kids as 1500 children ETA: per year! in the US go blind in one eye due to visceral migrans--worm larvae that migrate and get confused when not in their host--in the eye.

Okay class ;) any questions?? Hope this helps :)

[Curiosity Hears]

Fwiiw, we used to have this wonderful pug mix who right after he came home got parvo. Poor little guy almost died. But Spunky was tough and with much love and nurturing became healthy and lived to be almost 17! He was worth every penny spent as a puppy for the joy he brought us was priceless.

Erin, I am so very glad for you, Mark and Biscuit. May you all have many years of love and joy together!