[BrianE]

Thanks for your help Daveyo,
When I picked her up at the Vet on Friday I ask what type of test was performed and it was a blood test.
Looking at the chart that came with her it looks like she had her distemper shots on 3/4/08,3/17/08 and 5/3/08 and I called the Vet that gave her the vaccination to confirm that she did get them.
One week ago she started getting sick and what the Vet said was 106 fever when we took her in and now she's running and playing like she did before. If it was distemper would she recoup this quickly? So far the only thing I notice is that she does not eat as much as I think she should and she seems to drinks alot of water and urinate's alot. She looks great and very responsive and very happy to be home. She is taking antibiotics 3x a day now.
I'm going to call the Vet and ask if he can do this test, if he can't could you recommend a Vet in the central NJ area? Like I said she seems so healthy now I would think if she had distemper that she would still be under the weather. I just want to find out what caused her to get sick and make sure she gets well.

Thanks again for your help,

Brian

[Daveyo]

Hi Brian

Just as I suspected blood test. A very lousey way to get accurate results. I don't know about New Jersey of who can do it. You have to call around. I will be in living in Kentucky near the West Virginia border sometime in 2010.

Distemper is very sneaky. That temp reading of 106 is a very sure dead sign it being Distemper. Keep watching the stools of your animal and watch for the other upcoming signs. Please do this test as quickly as possible. If this is true and the disease started you have 6 days from onset of the fever reading to cure your dog and prevent the disease from breaching the blood brain barrier which is the central nervous system. From there it only gets worse. However don't panic, your dog can still be cured but after day 6 you have to have a NDV-CSF tap done to stop the virus in the CNS. Ok

Dogs will go up and down in the beginning of the disease onset. By week two after the 8th day has passed the disease will progress and the dog will appear normal but they also will slowly get less active as the disease progresses.

Right now don't waste any time. Call around and find someone to do that test quickly. Time is of essence. You only got a 6 day window before the virus if present enters the CNS. You can save a big problem right there alone. After Day 6, I will stay by your side and get that dog cured for you.

In the meantime do make calls to find Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccine of the LaSorta Strain. First weigh your dog right now and the Dx is 0.1cc for every pound. The vaccine comes freeze dried and it will hold up to near 3.0cc. It also comes with a sterile diluent. Also buy one extra one if you need it for the CNS tap, if you go beyond day 6 window.

Call the agriculture department and ask them where the Newcastles is sold. Chicken farmers also know where to get it as well. Most times you can find it at any agriculture poultry store. Don't tell them you need it for your dog or you will be answering a ton of questions to people who have no idea of what your doing. Just tell them you have chickens and you need to get the vaccine period.

Secondly while your at it also find some Baytril liquid antibiotic and Penicillin G liquid antibiotic. Now Penicillin G will first come in powdered form and also comes with a clear diluent. This is vital if confirmed distemper this will cure the pneumonia problem.

Distemper is always accompanied with pneumonia.

Don't give that dog a BATH AT ALL. keep it dry and if dirty leave it alone. Getting it wet will accelerate the pneumonia and cause the virus to also pick up speed. Understand.

If possible I will need to know the blood test results after day 10 from this report. I need to know the WBC count because Distemper attacks the bone marrow of the animal and it destroys the defense barrier of the animal. WBC is your main protection against bacteria and diseases.

Get that test done quickly. I cannot emphasize this as it being most important. Stop everything else and get the test done, you can find out in 20 minutes. Go to any medical lab that can perform this test for you. Call around and hit the phone books. In USA most labs today is private labs. So you will need to get the vet or some lab to do it.

Once this test is done then you will know the direction you have to go. If negative distemper is ruled out. Then you have a different problem which can be taken care of. If positive then it has distemper and you need to act VERY QUICKLY. ok The virus moves rapidly and it will not wait for you. Remember that OK

Now if you got the NDV and it is a negative test your ahead of the game. Keep the NDV in the refrigerator and keep it cold. It will be good for 5 years. This vaccine also cures kennel cough, respiratory herpes. Common illness on animals and even cancer. It really comes in handy if all else fails.

Also do not vaccinate your dog at all right now. It is sick. You only vaccinate the animal when it is healthy and no problems of any illness being present. OK. If you vaccinate an animal while sick the vaccine gets cancelled out because it is sick and it will cause additional problems. period.


You said the last vaccination shot was on May 3rd. Ok 14 to 21 days later is when that vaccine takes effect. This puts you around May 24th tops. Hmmmm, and your dog is reacting now. 2 weeks later. It is very possible the dog's immune reaction is only kicking in now and vaccines are known to cause onset of Distemper due to the genetics of your dog. It is 50-50 right now.

My diagnosis > Distemper is possible but highly unlikely due to prior vaccine shots. Then again, The vaccine itself (and its well known) can cause Distemper. 50-50 and the only sure fire way to know is that test Brian. Do that test.

The one thing that bothers me most is the temp reading of 106 which is a sure fire dead sign that Distemper is present. This temp reading throws everything kilter. Understand.

Kennel cough or Respiratory herpes will give somewhat a high reading but not that high. Usually around 103-to 104 tops.

Right now based on that temp reading I have to lean Distemper is present until the test tells me otherwise.

Hurry and report back as quickly as you can

Daveyo

[Daveyo]

Brian

Listen to me here. If you cannot find anyone to do that test, then assume your dog has Distemper.

Better to be safe than sorry. OK.. Get the NDV vaccine and give it to the dog NOW. FIND THAT NDV (Newcastles Disease Virus Vaccine of the LaSorta strain. So weigh your dog right now and remember the Dx is 0.1cc for every pound or 0.45kg. You will need two syringes and a rubber strap and a small razor blade and someone to help you. You inject the NDV into the blood vein of the dog prefer the front leg. Twist is slightly to spot the vein. OK. If you cannot do this get some medical person - anyone who knows how to use syringes and needles and have them give it to the dog.

At least your inside the window and you can stop this virus quickly and prevent the breach to the CNS and if your dog has any of the other being kennel cough or respiratory herpes the NDV in the body will take care of that for you as well.

After you do this then get Penicillin G and Baytril and you have to take care of pneumonia for the next 7 days These two are antibiotics. Dx is Penicillin G of 1.0cc and Baytril of 0.5cc combined and inject intramuscular twice a day or every 12 hours. After that your dog should be fine, and the problem is nipped in the bud.

If I were you, I would do this option since you don't want to play with distemper at all. If you have any other dog around keep it away from the sick dog period until you get the dog cured.

The virus will continue to shed for 2 weeks after it is cured.

After that do not give any more vaccination shots and consult me first and I will tell you what to do. OK

Daveyo.