Canine (General)

[amyp]

We rescued a lab retriever from a shelter about 2 weeks ago. We realized after getting her home that she had intestinal parasites, worms and was partially dehydrated. We got her on meds and she seemed to be doing really well. During this time she was very playful and hungry. About 6 days ago she begin to have a thick greenish yellow discharge coming from her nose and would not eat or drink. We immediately took her to the urgent care and they suspected distemper and kept her for observation that day. We were able to pick her up that evening and they told us they thought she just had a respiratory infection (they did an xray and gave us Clavamox). She is eating at times now, but our primary concern is that she is extremely lethargic. She sleeps constantly - sometimes we are even having to wake her to take her outside. When she is outside she goes to the bathroom (she does seem to squat 8 or more times while out there and not always does she actually go) and she also likes to wander around some. She is not responding to her name very well anymore and she is not playful. She used to get so excited to see any of us and would run to us - not anymore. The vets have estimated her age at about 11 weeks and I'm just worried that she is acting so differently from when we first brought her home. I am new to this animal thing and am very concerned for our new family addition. Any suggestions - is this normal behavior for a respiratory infection on a puppy that had a rough start on this earth?

Thanks so much for any advice anyone can give.

[Daveyo]

YOUR DOG HAS CONFIRMED CANINE DISTEMPER What is the latest status right now please.

I hope you respond. There is a cure for this disease.

[amyp]

Our puppy was diagnosed with pnuemonia on Monday of this week. They have been doing very aggresive treatment this week and she seems to be improving. The vets were concerned she also had distemper, but we decided to treat the pneumonia anyway and hope for the best (she had the distemper vaccine almost 3 weeks ago and it is our understanding that the test that can tell us whether or not she has it can give a false-positive result too soon after the vaccine. We are waiting until next week to run that test). She is now eating, breathing easier and there is no more yellowish-green discharge from her nose. She is now excited to see us again and though easily tired, seems more like a puppy. She is underweight, but has begun to eat more the last couple of days. I pick her up from the vet this afternoon - they are doing nebulizer treatments twice a day along with super strong antibiotics. We are praying for this to only be pneumonia.


Distemper is treatable? I was under the belief that if we confirm distemper we will have to put her down. Please advise as to our options if the test comes back positive. Thank you so much for your help.

[Daveyo]

I hope that is is only Pneumonia. Usually Distemper brings up pneumonia and causes labor breathing and the discharges from the nose. Monitor the dog carefully and watch it for any other signs of this disease. Distemper is progressive so if your dog has it, other signs will begin to show eventually.

[amyp]

If she does end up having distemper is there anything we can do to stop the progression of the disease?

[Daveyo]

Yes, Newcastles Disease Virus Vaccine. I posted here under Canine Distemper peer to peer, topic as For any Confirmed Cases of Distemper. Follow that as instructed, and you can save your dog. If you think there is progression it will show in the dogs paws of hardening of the pads, goop coming from the eyes, the nose will be changing, the dog goes to withdrawal symptoms the eating and drinking will reduce, the stools will get very soupy. These are the secondary charateristics of Distemper as it progresses. Also it is destroying everything inside the dogs body and at this stage it has breached the blood brain barrier, requiring a CSF tap to be done by a qualified VET as I also have instructed under that topic.

Keep in mind to do the injections of NDV and or the CSF Tap you need a qualified VET or Assistant that has been trained in the medical profession. OK. Don't do it yourself. You can find NDV at any poultry agriculture store in your area.

This site does not want to take any responsibility for any problems associated with medical details so be advised that their policy is intended to protect themselves of any litigation. When you do this it is your responsibility and your own decision. I can only provide you the steps and procedures but the rest is all up to you and to your VET. Remember only your VET can do the medical procedure and both of you need to have a clear and precise understanding what is involved. OK

[amyp]

Thank you so much for taking time to share your knowledge. Her pneumonia seems to have taken a turn for the worse and we are very worried once again. Thanks again for your time.

[Daveyo]

Go to the Vet and have him give the dog 0.5cc of Baytril twice a day, and Penicillin G 1.0cc twice a day for 7 days. This usually takes care of the Pneumonia problem.

Just to remind you, you must go to the VET to have this done and this site is not responsible regarding such advice according to their disclaimer. It is your sole responsibility to take care of your pet and the VET that is qualified and licensed.

Let me know how it turns out.