[prohunter20]

I recently bought a basset hound puppy and is showing signs of distemper I have a 9 year old lab that had her vaccines last year but is about 2 months overdue for this years vaccines. She has started a bad cough sorta like that of the puppies cough. How likely is it that she would contract the virus if she had her vaccines 14 months ago? We are not sure if the puppy has the virus or just a respiratory infection, but if he does have the virus I would really like to know if my lab will contract it or if she has already.

[Daveyo]

Hi I am Daveyo

As to your Lab, if she had prior vaccination shots the dog will be OK even 14 months since last shot. The dog has immunity good for another 18 months.

As of the puppy get that NDV now and give it the body shots direct to the blood vein and do not do it by intravenous means. Straight from the syringe to the blood vein. Weight your dog and the Dx is 0.1cc for every pound it weighs. If you do this inside the 6 day window from onset which is the signs of a fever 106 degrees, then the NDV will get you out of the woods. If after the 6 day window, then you need to have the CSF tap done with NDV and that will solve your problem pertaining to this virus. Both procedures will cure in 24 hours. NDV will not cross the blood brain barrier and that is why you have to have the CSF tap done manually.

To be absolutely certain that the pup has it, please do the brush border smear test of the inside lining of the bladder. It will show up as paranuclear and carmine red. Basically the virus itself and this takes only 30 minutes for anyone to do if they know their Bio 101 class. If you want the full instructions let me know ASAP OK.

For the Lab start on antibiotics (strong antibiotics) as it may have kennel cough or repiratory herpes based on your report. OK Keep it away from the pup for now.


Write back and let me know what your doing

Daveyo

[prohunter20]

Thanks for your reply.

The lab was taken to the vet on saturday and found out that she has kennel cough. She was given a couple shots and some antibiotics and is doing very well. The cough has subsided greatly. Since the puppy has been on his antibiotics, he has been doing much better. He is eating, has no diarrhea and seems much more happy than a few days ago. So maybe it was just a respiratory tract infection? From what I understand, if the puppy does have distemper he should have loss of apetite, vomiting, and diarrhea along with his other symptoms. The doc also said that if he does in fact have it that the antibiotics the he was given might make him show improvement but most likely will not. From what i have seen with his behavior, I have reason to believe it is not distemper but then again I'm not a doctor...

How long does the virus last (kennel cough)? The doc just told me that it had to runs its course but did not say how long it would take. Fatal?

Thanks for the reply!

Josh

[Daveyo]

To answer your question depending on the dog Kennel cough can last up to a month.

In regards to Distemper, no not vomiting. The dog gets sicker as each day passes by. They develop goop in the eyes, the breathing becomes laborous, and the pads begin to harden and the nose has a lot of discharge of mucus. The final stages is the neurological symthoms.

Do not vaccinate a dog that is sick OK

Only vaccinate a dog when healthy.

So for the pup no vaccine until the kennel cough is finished and declared free of illness. Keep that dog inside and away from the outside animals and you will keep the danger down to a minimum until that pup gets all its shots done.

Daveyo