Parvo

[ilovemarkb]

seems to be varied opinions of survival rate in puppies with this condition? anyone have any experience or info statistics etc?

[lankeela]

Most puppies have some immunity from their mothers, and it tends to affect dogs in rescue kennels as they are usually from unvaccinated parents and are in an environment where there is likely to be lots of dogs in confined areas and very stressful surroundings. The stories put out by vets every so often about outbreaks are usually concerning rescues and I believe (perhaps cynically) that they are meant to scare people into vaccinating. Personally I don't vaccinate adult dogs and there is much evidence to suggest that immunity from puppy vaccines last a long time if not a lifetime. Puppies that do succomb do not usually survive unless caught early and if they do they tend to have problems in later life such as a weak heart. When it first came to light years ago many greyhound kennels were affected and even if the dogs survived they would often collapse when training or racing.

[woofgang]

I lost a pup to parvo 30 years ago. She had been carefully reared from healthy well cared for vaccinated parents. It was completely heartbreaking. she died within 4 days of coming to us and those 4 days were hell. The breeder reckoned that someone had brought it in when they viewed the litter even though she took precautions.
I would always vaccinate against it and maintain the vacs to contribute to herd immunity.

[Brinjal]

Sadly most pups with parvovirus do not Survive. You must be sure your
Pup has been vaccinated if unsure get it done as soon as you get the pup. It's rather strange how parvo popped up in mulitiple countries through lit the world at the same time. Conspirousy theory or not it preceded HIV and thoughts are that it was a trail run for the release of the HIV virus.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks guys for your answers. My teenage boys were over the moon when their dad and his wife bought a puppy last week. Apparently it had a bloated stomach yesterday so their dad has took it to the vets today, then an hour later it's been put to sleep. Ive had the awful job of tell my fourteen year old the sad news. Apparently it was bought in Durham (£150) and were reassured that it had had all its vaccinations!

[boxtops]

that is so sad, ilove - was the puppy insured?

[ilovemarkb]

think its highly unlikely! It was a chiwawa jack russell (hadnt even heard of them)

[boxtops]

Really sorry for your boys..... (and the puppy)

[ladybirder]

Have you reported this back to the breeder? I would be sending the RSPCA round there.

[ilovemarkb]

the puppy was to replace their ten year old staffy that died about six weeks ago :-(

[boxtops]

Aw, that's awful.....

[ilovemarkb]

dont really get on too well with the ex husband so I will suggest this to my boys and they can feed back to their dad.

[lankeela]

Nothing anyone can do unfortunately. Their only recourse is to trading standards if they can prove they were sold it as vaccinated and even then the vaccination is not 100% guarantee. But of course crossbreeds are healthier than pedigrees(!) Poor puppy and poor kids, not a nice thing to have to deal with at any time but just before Christmas is even worse. If only people would not buy these cheap (and sometimes not so cheap) 'designer' crosses that are often bred on puppy farms or by people who just want to make a quick buck.