I know there is a huge controversy right now
on whether or not to vaccinate your children. We are a vaccinating
family, and this comes first hand from my time in the clinic as a Veterinary
Technician.
Anyone who has ever had a puppy has probably seen or been through the
puppy vaccination schedule, very similar to when you are blessed with a human
child. You have 3 or 4 vaccination dates with many being the same vaccination
given multiple times. Have you ever wondered why this is?
The short version of this is that colostrum that a mother
animal gives to her young contains antibodies to different diseases
that the mother has come into contact with. These antibodies are a
form of protection to the baby animal as its defenses are not mature.
The maternal antibodies do not create an immune reaction in the baby animal, it
just protects it from possible infection. Like bubbles you blow in the wind
some pop fast while others linger for a while before popping. This is the same
with the maternal immunity. At around 6 weeks of age some of the maternal
immunity starts to lose their effectiveness, (the bubbles pop) and no
longer provide the needed protection. By 12 weeks of age 97% of all little
critters have lost the immunity that their mother passed to them through
the colostrum. Since every baby critter is different, Veterinarians give
a series of vaccinations to cover the animal with the goal of a vaccination
being on board when the maternal immunity fails and the baby critters own
immune system can take over and create its own immunity from the vaccination.
This is why you pay for 3 or 4 shots to protect your new puppy or kitten from
some pretty nasty diseases.
Why the immunology lesson you ask? Well, simple. Many diseases
that dogs or cats catch as young-in's can be prevented. I know the
vaccination schedule seems like a good way for veterinarians to make money.
However, if veterinarians really wanted to make money they would tell you not
to vaccinate your pet. That way when it comes down with something they can rake
in the cash by providing the nursing and hospital care that is required for
many of these diseases to even give your new family member a chance at
survival. And all that time and money spent isn't a guarantee.
Over Memorial weekend one of my LEO's (Law Enforcement Officers,
or Police Officer) picked up a little German Shepherd-cross puppy around 15
weeks of age. Cute little critter, friendly as can be and loves a good belly
rub. On Sunday of this last weekend my kennel attendant J called and said that
Krieger, as my husband and I had named him, wasn't doing good. He had not been
eating and there was vomit and diarrhea all over his kennel, which are classic
signs of Parvo. I went out to the shelter to find my once playful little guy
with sides sucked in and drinking but his thirst not being met. He
also was showing additional signs of dehydration.
I contacted my veterinarian on call who was already at the clinic
before I packed up Krieger and took him in. Within about
30 minutes we have a confirmation of Parvo.
If you have never heard of Parvo, it is a terrible virus that
attacks a puppy’s gastrointestinal system from the stomach through
the intestines. It pretty much strips the lining of the GI tract, causing
bloody diarrhea and vomiting. This creates severe dehydration, and if not
treated will lead to death.
My funding does not provide for major medical care of the shelter
critters, but as a Veterinary Technician I have nursed many a pup with Parvo.
Some make it and some don’t, no matter how much you fight for them their bodies
just can't fight. Ultimately your goal is to keep them hydrated while
their body attempts to fight off the virus and keep from a secondary
infection from starting.
Krieger (which is German for “warrior” or “fighter”) had an IV
inserted into his front leg and we were sent home with two "banana
bags" of fluids. Additional antibiotics were started today. He
has been camping out in my master bathroom since Sunday afternoon hooked up to
IV fluids. This is a picture of him on his first night at the house. He was
dehydrated and tired as his body worked hard to fight off what was ravaging his
body.
We went through most of the two bags of fluid. I shut him off
Monday afternoon and presented him with water and a Gatorade mix to help
keep the electrolytes going and attempt to make it taste better. I also
gave him some rice and cooked chicken. Bland foods are easier on his recovering
GI tract, but he was only semi interested in the rice. When I added the chicken
he attacked it, though. Now we wait and see if he can keep it down, which is so
far so good. The picture below is from his second night at the house after I
took him off his fluids.
Understand, though, that this has been
a relatively easy treatment. It was caught early and we are by no
means out of the woods until he is keeping food and water down and the diarrhea
is completely gone. If you have a weak stomach treating Parvo can be
a trial. There is a smell that comes with a Parvo pup. The blood, vomit
diarrhea is not a pretty site. It wrecks havoc on small bodies who
just don't understand why. Parvo is highly infectious. It can live in the soil
for years. So if you have ever had a puppy at your home come down with Parvo it
is very important that you complete the puppy vaccinations on time to do
everything you can to prevent your new puppy from contracting this terrible
disease.
Krieger went home with his new owner on
Tuesday afternoon after I felt confident he would make a full recovery. He was
chasing the squirrels in the front yard during lunch when his new owner came to
see him.
Krieger ended up in the shelter. More than
likely he was someone’s puppy that wandered away or they just decided they
couldn't afford him. Who knows his history before he ended up with me? What I
am confident in is that he wasn't vaccinated properly. Many people do not
vaccinate their dogs. They are putting their dogs at risk for terrible
diseases. Rabies in required by every state in the United States, and with good
reason as it is zoonotic and can be passed to people and other species. There
is no cure for Rabies, however don't forget about the other vaccinations as
they are just as important to the health and happiness of your new little furry
addition to your family.
If you have more questions about Parvo you
can go here:http://www.avma.org/animal_health/canine_parvovirus_faq.asp
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