Canine Distemper

[livingwith]

I adopted a puppy on Sunday December 23rd from a rescue, while visiting my local pet store. I was told that she had a slight case of kennel cough & to give her an over the counter cough syrup. I did not, I wanted to see my vet first. I made an appointment as soon as I could, for that Wednesday after Christmas. My vet put her on an antibiotic for the infection and cough tabs. She also had some healed puncture wounds, one very close to her eye, that was infected. She had an infected spay incis...Read the full article

[Daveyo]

Typical, and these VETS still do not know what they are doing.

They still cannot know Distemper even when they see one. You should sue your VET for a horrible diagnosis given to you and the wrong treatments applied since they had first hand up front seeing your dog.

Sorry to read another sad sad story. There is a cure for Canine Distemper just to let you know.

So many VETS profess their trade and practices with all the education they received and still even after they do this for a living still cannot even spot correctly when the dog has Distemper let alone do the right tests and prescribe the right medications.

This VET you went to was so way off base I fell out of my chair. If I was there I would have given him a slap in the face for embarassing the VET Medical Profession.

What a waste of life and a nightmare this person went thru.

[ktp]

I am so sorry. I've just been through exactly the same thing with my puppy. I adopted him on the 11th January from the local SPCA, having seen a beautiful, healthy puppy on the 5th, I had to wait for him to get neutered. He had been perfectly healthy, bright and energetic the first time I saw him-a 6 month old found lab/shepard cross. When I went to pick him up, he had a runny nose and a cough which I mentioned to the lady-she said it was a kennel cough and I should just take him to the vet as soon as I could for some anti-biotics.

The first time I went-I was told upper-respiratory tract infection. He was given medecine, which did very little and 3 days later I was at the emergency vet, being told it was 'likely' distemper. Now-he had no other symptoms. Nothing. No loss of appetite, no vomiting, no diarehha. So I took him to a different vet for a second opinion. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and given, as you were a treatment plan involving steam baths. Luckily for him, he never went off his food and loved the cheese I wrapped his pills in. He never stopped playing and was a happy, affectionate dog. Three trips to the vets later and he was given a clean bill of health. I was estatic, and so glad that I'd taken the time and had the faith to get the second opinion. Lungs were clear, putting on weight, his puppy teeth were falling out..

2 days ago, he had a horrific seizure, right in front of me.. his lips was twitching as if he was snarling, he was shimpering and shaking all over. I took him straight to the emergency vet who, after a 6 hour wait of me playing with him and giving him cuddles-told me I had to put him down. Like you, I was distraught. 1 month is a long time to love and lose a dog-no matter what anyone tells you. Like you, I'm terrified of getting a shelter dog again or making another dog ill. I've been advised that it's an easy virus to kill-bleach and soapy water will do it. Vaccinated, grown up dogs will be safe. If you're as scared as I am, get a dog that has been in a foster home, away from a shelter. You have my hearfelt sympathy, and I know how much you are suffering. Give yourself time.

[HollyFree]

To ktp, thanks for the concern & care. I still find myself pulled to this website, I guess it's my way of connecting with other sad souls & honoring my dog. I still miss my Holly. I am so sorry about your puppy as well. Distemper is evil! I do have good news though. I decided to go for it...& I got another dog. A healthy 5 year old dog. Her name is Ember.

I cleaned like a crazy person. (And I waited the amount of time recommended to let all of the germs die off.) I am still terrified of other dogs touching or coming near my dog, especially puppies. I wouldn't even let people touch her in the beginning, but I am starting to relax a little. (I worry if they might have just pet someone else's dog carrying distemper?) Sad, huh? I am forever changed from this. As I see, so are many others. It's weird living in today's world with modern medicine & having to endure that kind of illness, pain, suffering, etc. I never felt so helpless. It sometimes feels like a bad dream, until I see or hear something that reminds me of her. (Which is often.)

Ember has renewed my spirit in life again. I was sort of lost. She has had a hard life & is so greatful to be here. I am so greatful for her. As corny as it sounds, I think Holly gave her blessing. A lot of things led me to adopting this little dog. And after all the rain, clouds, gloom, & doom, that had been here for days & days, on the day I went to just "look" at her, the sun came out & shined on her kennel. I swear. She was in a kennel all by herself. I sat in my car for a few minutes & took a deep breath before getting out, not sure if I really should be there. I looked over to my right & there she was. She is missing an ear & has some scars on her head & neck. She just looked so sad. She was sad, I was sad, it felt like it was enough. She showed no real personality either. She passed the tests with kids & cats, mostly cuz she was just so sad & ignored them. Still I felt a strong connection. I had immersed myself online after Holly died. Not only on this distemper forum, but just in anything dog. I kept seeing Ember online at a local shelter. Then at another shelter. She was not getting adopted. I needed to keep myself busy. I started looking up dog breeds & such for the "some day" when I would get another dog. I didn't have a lot of support here at home while trying to mourn. I am a very serious animal lover & my fiancee apparently doesn't give it much thought. He is great with my cat, but not as great as I thought. His idea was cry & move on NOW. Not my thoughts at all. Any way, Ember has a great personality! She is my walking buddy, that has been missing & my shadow all throughout the day at home. I will always love Holly. She was my first dog that I bought myself. And as horrific as it was, it happened for a reason, maybe for Ember? Good luck to you, take care.

[Daveyo]

To HollyFree

I am Daveyo. I too went thru a lot of pain myself and even to this day I do miss my Toni and Dino. However, to me they are together right now and I know they will be waiting for me when my time comes to expire as we all have that fate as well.

If I can give you some advice, this is what I will tell you. Make sure your dog is well vaccinated. Even a dog being 5 years old will have problems if not vaccinated. Double check it all. A simple blood test to check for the Titers on all the diseases to see if they have good immunity is well worth its weight in gold. Parvo is quite simple doing the elisia test from the blood.

Yes I agree Distemper really does change a person their lifestyle completely upside down. It is something I wish upon no one. However, even though it is measles, which humans get and for the most part we can overcome it, it still is deadly to humans. Over 30,000 people in Africa alone die from this simple disease yearly. But to the dogs it is a literal DEATH SENTENCE and what crime did they ever do to deserve such fate????

That is why today from Dr. Sears and I we have been trying very hard to reach to people to let them know that there is a CURE FOR THIS DISEASE. Provided it is caught before the 7th day from onset of the symptoms. Even if caught later, all the dogs can still be saved, and neurological problems can be avoided doing the procedures we have announced and posted, here and in my website from [moderator note: website address has been removed] I have a wealth of information on this site of mine as it being my effort to inform the people the best way I can. Hopefully once all the testing and experiments are finished coming from Dr. Sears and I perhaps we can get this into the medical journals. Eventually you might see me in the news in the future concerning this Disease as I make such announcement along with other bonifide people nearby my side.

Dr. Sears has a excellent track history of saving over 600 dogs. Yes over 600 have been saved. That is his job and now mine. In fact I am the first one who broke the barrier concerning the neurological aspects just recently and it has been a success up to now. So progress is being made. Currently I am working on the issues to get the myelin and the Schwann cells to repair itself (caused by Distemper) and hopefully eliminate this disease from the CNS for good. So far we have been able to stop the progression of Distemper in the CNS and caused it to have a Mexican Standoff but it does not affect the dogs at all. In fact dogs do recover. Go figure. The barrier now broken down that I have mention has never been done until just recently. That is why nobody knows about this as of yet.

Dr. Sears and I have teamed up with a few researchers from different countries and each has a specialty and we are working this out here and there. It is a long road, but hopefully all this can be done in our lifetime. I am old as well as Dr. Sears, so for what it is worth, we are the only ones who have the vast knowledge of this Disease. If our results prove correct, then those with MS will have finally a chance to have this very same virus eliminated in humans as well. Now this will be a real accomplishment.

Dr. Sears and I hope to see this day take place while we are alive. The odds well????? don't know.

So hang in there and study the diseases that the dogs get so you can be alert for such and have the knowledge of what to do. This is important on your aspect and point of view. It can go a long way for you when the time/incident does happen.

Good luck on your new dog.