Ok found out that my puppy has parvo

Goldie · 12-21-2006, 05:34 AM

I took her to the vet and she tested positive... No vet will take her on partial payments, and because of all the holiday shopping I am broke... The cheapest vet wants $750 and I just cant afford that right now... SO I have been trying some home remedies that I got online (gatorade and pedialite)
I had to use a turkey baser to give her the liquids cuz she wont drink or eat on her own.... Well after 11 hours of the home remedy she actually got up and ate a whole bowl of food, and so far hasnt thrown it back up..... Obviously this is a good sign, but how good? Is she on her raod to recovery?
Please help!! I'm desperate for my baby's life!

BellaBoo · 12-21-2006, 09:34 AM

Oh noooo, I'm so sorry to hear that. I know how heart wrenching it can be to watch this, but I found out (over 2000.000 dollars later), that the most important thing when a dog has this type of illness is to continuously give them fluids. I did try that before I went to the doggy ER, but my dog just kept vomiting it up and I got too scared (my dog had pancreatitis w/gastroenteritis, which has similar symptoms to Parvo). You should still continue to do it even if your pup does throw it up, just wait 20 minutes or so and try again. Also, maybe you should use a smaller dispenser...maybe one of those syringes that the pharmacy gives you for infants when they are on oral medication. You can then give your pup just a few CCs at a time, because if you give too much at once, they will surely vomit it up. However, since you are giving smaller amounts, you should probably do it more often (maybe half a syringe every 20 minutes or so). Also, I know this sounds really disgusting, but you can use a different syringe and give your dog fluids rectally, too! Just be careful of how far you insert the syringe and squirt it in there nice and slow. I think Pedialyte would be the best liquid right now, but Gatorade may also be an option. Maybe you could alternate the two.

Since Parvo is a virus, there are no antibiotics that can cure this, it has to run it's course. If you could just keep your pup hydrated long enough for the virus to run out, she/he may make it. Please call your vet again and ask them about the above idea just to be sure it is safe in your particular situation.

Oh, one more thing, you should probably try to keep your pets "sick-bay" area clean with a mixture of bleach and water. Utilize the bleach mixture anywhere that it's safe, and for other areas, use Lysol (remove the dog from the area first, of course

. You want to make sure that the virus isn't hanging out somewhere around your house, so do the same with your entire house, just be careful of the bleach. Before I found out my dog had pancreatitis, we thought she had Parvo, so I even sprayed my pups restroom area in my yard with a bleach mixture...just a thought.

I hope this helps.... I wish you and your pooch the best of luck, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!!! I really hope you write back with a happy ending!!!

Dogged · 12-21-2006, 12:39 PM

Actually, if the dog is vomiting, you do not want to continue to keep giving oral water or food. The act of vomiting dehydrates them further. They lose liquids and it taxes the body because of all the muscle straining. So if the dog is vomiting, do not give anything orally for at least 5-6 hours. If it hasn't vomited by then, then try a small amount of water every hour to see if the dog can keep it down. If so then gradually increase amounts of water and food.

I would suggest having the vet give the dog subcutaneous fluids once or twice daily. This is just fluids injected under the skin on the back of the neck, and the dog slowly absorbs it. Then you don't have to worry about getting things in orally as much. Also get some antibiotics from them. Yes, it is a virus, but antibiotics are still recommended. I have seen people save their dogs this way. It isn't the ideal, like being on IV fluids and hospitalized is, but it is better than nothing, and isn't nearly so expensive. Sometimes vets don't think to recommend this because they are more geared to giving the best possible treatment. This would be the next best thing.

I would go for Pedialyte over Gatorade. Also get some really bland food, like Hills I/D from your vet, or Gerber or Beechnut Chicken baby food. Not Chicken and rice or chicken and noodles, just plain meat baby food. Chicken ideally, and offer that if the dog isn't vomiting. Or you can make a white meat chicken and rice mixture at home. Not fried, no spices, just plain white meat chicken and plain white rice. Minute rice is fine. Aproximately 1/4 to 1/3 chicken to 3/4 to 2/3 rice.

Please let us know how it is going.

Goldie · 12-21-2006, 04:23 PM

she is still a little lethargic but she did keep the food down that she ate last nightant get her to eat today or drink... I am using a turkey baser to give her fluids... Should I force feed her as well? Or just keep her hydrated and let her eat on her own?

Dogged · 12-22-2006, 01:48 AM

If she is eating on her own, then you don't have to force feed her. Did you offer the baby food, or the chicken and rice? Did you get antibiotics from your vet? Has there been any vomiting? Diarrhea? Did you check with your vet about the subcutaneous fluids?

cujo3269 · 12-22-2006, 01:07 PM

my sister adopted a pitt bull with parvo. The vet said 84% die from parvo. We had to give her an IV every 6 hours plus meds plus the baby syringe full of pedialyte. Despite all that she still barely pulled through. You can tell how well she getting better by her energy level. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Goldie · 12-22-2006, 05:59 PM

I'm about to give up on these home remedies.... I cant even look at her without crying.... And she needs me so badly now more than ever... How can you guys go thru with this..... She is not eating or drinking anything... Do I need to force feed her? I am just trying to keep her hydrated.. I havent even gave her no food all day yesterday... Just with the liquids she is vomiting them up right after I give it to her... She has not had a bowel movement all day yesterday.... Just peeing. She looks horrible and her eyes are so sad.Thank God for my roomie he has been helping me so much with the cleaning up after her, I cant, I just break down.... This is so heart breaking. I have been giving her pedialite and gatorade in her butt... I have human antibiotics that I have been giving her as well as vitamins.. Can I put these in her butt also??? I need some advice so bad right now.... I have $200 dollars so far and I need to try to come up with some more for the vet.
But until then I need as much advice as possible please please please help me. Is there anyone out there who had a puppy survive with home remedies?

animalcraker · 12-22-2006, 08:49 PM

I highly recomened that you call your vet or any vet for that matter and get a detailed schedule of what home redimdies you should be giving and how you should be giving them. Last time I checked giving fluids rectaly won't keep them hydrated enough to do much good except flush out anything that she may have in her rectum. Did you ever find out about doing sub que fluids twice a day? Also she hasn't had a bowel movement because she hasn't been eating, you should call the vet and find out if you should force feed her. Are the antibiotics and vitamins that you are giving her recomended by a vet?

Definetly call a vet and find out what needs to be done for your pet. Besides they can give you an answer almost imediately, while we have to take time to get online, read all the post, and then reply, and who knows how knowlageable us posters may be on the subject.

BellaBoo · 12-23-2006, 12:49 AM

Double post

BellaBoo · 12-23-2006, 12:59 AM

Triple post…sorry

BellaBoo · 12-23-2006, 01:01 AM

Oh, Goldie: I am so very sorry to hear this. I was really, really hoping to hear good news. I know EXACTLY what you're going through. I cried for 9 hours straight before I went to the ER at 4 in the morning. My eyes were swollen almost shut, my stomach was in knots, and I was sooo exhausted. My heart goes out to you and the puppy.

I really think the subcutaneous water is the best thing, if you can manage it. Do you have any friends in the medical field? If so, maybe they could get a syringe and do it for you.

Are you saying the regular vet won't take less than 750.00? I know an ER absolutely will not, believe me, I begged her to let me give half of it at the time, then the other half on my next payday, as that was all I had in my own bank account, but they said no way. It was 1500.000 up front, that night or nothing. However, when I was finally able to transfer my dog from the ER to my regular vet, she let me give her 150.00 one week and then 150.00 the next and they kept her 2 days. I can't believe a regular vet wants 750.00, sounds really high. Have you continued to call around?

Oh yeah, I also want to mention that the antibiotics you are giving your pup may not be such a good idea. Like most meds, antibiotics have side effects that could worsen the situation. You really should call the vet, tell them what you have, and they may (I doubt it, but it's worth trying to ask) tell you how much you can give the puppy. It all depends on what type you have and the strength.

How is the pup today? Any improvement? I hope so...

Dogged · 12-23-2006, 02:55 AM

You absolutely do not want to give the dog a drug that you do not know is ok for dogs, and you don't know the proper dog dose of. That is extremely dangerous.

I really don't think giving anything rectally will do any good. If she is having diarrhea then it will all shoot out again, plus her butt is probably very sore after the diarrhea so doing anything back there will be unpleasant at best.

If you have some money, then I would ask the vet about getting some subcutaneous fluids (fluids under the skin) like I recommended before. If she has that, it won't matter as much about what she takes orally. Also discuss proper antibiotics and anti-emetics (anti nausea) drugs (to stop the vomiting).

You don't have time to mess around with this. You need to get her hydrated asap, and if she is continuing to vomit, you can't do that orally (and again I don't recommend rectally either).

Dying from dehydration is very unpleasant. If you can't do any of the things recommended, maybe it is time to consider euthanasia.

Goldie · 12-23-2006, 01:03 PM

The cheapest vet wants $750 all up front... No partial payments at all..... She drank half a bowl of water on her own last night... yea I need to get a hold of the vet to see what kind of medication they can give me for her that is also a reasonable price for me.... I am boiling chicken now, preparing to give to her. Thanks to all you dog lovers! Me and Goldie really appreciate it... And when she is feeling better I will post a happy picture of her.... I am so greatful that you guys are helping me get thru this We love you!

Dogged · 12-24-2006, 03:46 AM

I guess I am not making myself clear. The sucutaneous fluids would be somthing you would take the dog into the vet for and they would do it right away, and you would take her home again. I would think the cost for just the subQ fluids alone would be about $30 give or take. If you can give the fluids yourself ( or know someone who could) at home, they might just sell you the bags and equipment to give it and it might be even cheaper. There is no reason for them to require a huge deposit of money for something you are taking your dog in for, getting, and then leaving.

Is there any more vomiting? Did she keep that 1/2 bowl of water down?

Goldie · 12-24-2006, 11:24 PM

Goldie is eating and drinking by herself keeping everything down

To all those people that said home remedies dont work.... My Goldie girl is living proof!!!! I also boiled some chicken and gave it to her, after that she was gaining her strength back. She is still thin and kinda sick but doing sooooo much better...
Thanks for everything you guys! You have no clue how much strength YOU ALL gave me to get thru this! If I could I would give you all a big hug.... But I guess a cyber hug is the best I can do
*hug* *muah* *slurp* (kisses from Goldie, my puppy) lol
The worst is over..... YAY!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE AND YOUR PETS!

EnchantedSushi · 12-27-2006, 01:25 AM

My pup Rex just got over parvo a couple of weeks ago, so believe me, I know how you feel. It's horrible. I can't believe your vet wanted $750 upfront. That's crazy. We had to put a $250 deposit for him to be kept over night. He stayed at the vets for 3 nights and the total came out to about $254.

Anyways, he survived, thankfully. I think we caught it pretty early, so he had a really good chance. He never had diarrhea and only threw up a total of 6 times over the 5 day period it took him to get well.

When we brought him home, we fed him every two hours and used a syringe to give him Pedialyte, as the vet recommended. We were told that he needed to have a bland diet for awhile, so definitely no table scraps or snacks. Also, don't go right back into feeding her the normal amount she usually eats. The vet told us to give smaller portions because his stomach had shrunk due to not eating for a few days.

The first day he was back, he pretty much slept ALL day. He's never been away from home alone, so I don't think he slept at all at the vet's. The fact that he was weak and cold also probably had something to do with it. But the next day, he was more and more like himself and a few days later, he was back to being a total terror. lol.

josie817 · 12-28-2006, 08:16 PM

Several years ago one of our dogs got parvo (she was a puppy). she stayed in the vet for 2 weeks. once we brought her home the vet had put her on a Baby Food diet. it helped a lot. because the food is already mushy, its easier on the stomach, and it gets into their system a lot quicker. we fed our dog chicken and lamb. but olny a tbsp at a time. don't over feed her. a little goes a long ways.

BellaBoo · 01-03-2007, 04:52 PM

Yayyyy!! I bet you had a great Christmas and New Years!!! Phew…I'm glad I came back to check; I was a little scared to check at first, so I am so happy to hear this…Enjoy that pup!

Silverpawz · 01-03-2007, 06:52 PM

I'm happy to hear she's doing well. I've fostered quite a few puppies with Parvo and it helps a lot if you can buy some sub-Q fuilds from your vet and do it at home yourself. Once they show you how, it's not hard at all. These fluids really make all the difference. I think I payed $25 for a full bag and some syringes.

A product called "Little Tummies" for human children also worked wonders. It helps to sooth the stomach and that makes it easier for them to keep the pedilyte down. They vomit everything back up because the stomach is so painful. Little Tummies only costs about $5 at Walmart. You can get a liquid feeding syringe from your vet so you can shoot it down the back of her throat. One small syringe full every two hours is what I'd give.

Leila12345666 · 01-06-2007, 06:32 PM

WOW amazing im so happy your puppy is on his way to recovery. I cant believe that vet wanted you to pay $750 thats horrible! They do that when they see desperate people crying and trying to cure their dogs. Vets like that are fake all they want is the money they dont even care about the animal.

Im glad those store bought medicine worked as well if a vet. Im so happy you still have your baby with you.