Let me first start by saying, in no way, shape or form am I telling you not to at least have your pup seen by a Vet to discuss with them your options.

If you are in the South East Alabama Area I Highly Recommend
Dothan Animal Hospital
Serving Dothan since 1943
Ben Garrett DVM
Brad Harris DVM
1846 South Oates Street
Dothan Alabama 36301
334.793.9779

How to Prevent Parvo-Virus?
Puppies vaccinated before 9 weeks of age should be revaccinated every 3-4 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age.

It is said that if a puppy catches Parvo, he has less than a 20% chance of recovery. If you catch it in time and can do what you need to you may up that chance to 80%! I mean our situation was bad, we lost one and saved two!

The vaccines to give at this age are Distemper, Parvo-Virus, Corona and Bordatella.

There are rarely side effects to vaccines but there are a few serious ones that you should be on the outlook for.

1.) Swelling of face, neck, head or body.

2.) Loss of consciousness.

3.) Seizures.

4.) Hives, or large swellings anywhere on the body.

5.) Difficulty breathing.

6.) Disorientation or poor co-ordination.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your puppy from any type of situation with multiple dogs, especially unknown dogs. I wouldn’t allow my puppies to be around any other dogs until after their third round of shots! Remember also it takes 5 days for the vaccines to start working, so just cause they are vaccinated don’t mean they are safe yet! Not following this rule really could put your puppy’s life at risk to Parvo-Virus and have a deadly outcome.

You may think its to much with all these appointments to vet for vaccines, but think of it like this. It’s saving you lots of money you could potentially lose if your puppy gets Parvo-Virus, and besides you are keeping them from going through this horrible illness!

If you have dealt with Parvo-Virus then you know what I’m talking about, this is a horrible illness our unvaccinated puppies face!

What is this Parvo Tea?
Nothing good for your puppy! Do not buy into all the parvo tea’s on the internet.  By no means can your puppies tummy tolerate all the seasonings and junk they try and convince you to feed your puppy.

What is Parvo-Virus?
Parvo is basically a virus, just like with us we have to rid it out. However Parvo-Virus attacks the intestine walls, which causes ulcers or wounds leading to bloody diareahh and possible secondary infections.

Aside from the bloody diareahha comes, nausea, lethargy, vomiting and the killer is usually dehydration. We recently lost a puppy to the Parvo-Virus. I was puzzled and distraught never dealing with this before really. I was broke and it was late Saturday night, and a holiday weekend, so every thing was closed Monday. The Emergency vets are sickening and their costs are outrageous $140 and up for just the exam, I called several vets that led me to two ER Vets, other was more than the $140. Then they said it would be $800-1000 more depending on how long they needed care. Unfortunately not really knowing exactly what he needed, we lost our Meathead.

 

 

A few days later our other two puppies (the last two) started showing signs of Parvo-Virus, the diareah. We took them straight in, it was Wednesday September 5th 2012, they were tested for Parvo-Virus and had it. I was terrifed for these puppies futures. We had given their first shots, but not enough doses yet.

The wonderful people at Dothan Animal Hospital explained Parvo-Virus and what it does. So for the nausea we had Reglan, our pups were four months old and twenty pounds. They got two cc’s or two ml’s (cc & ml are equal) and half tablespoon of Pepto Bismol, yes Pepto. Why Pepto? It totally stops diareah and it worked!

 

 

The other thing is on first notice of what you think is Parvo-Virus NO FOODS!!! Let the gut rest for 24 – 48 hours. This is crucial, it allows whats in to settle or come out before meds kick in totally and the Gut can REST! This is important No food means nothing to pooh or vomit. You do however have to force if necessary fluids every two hours, make your goal a cup each time. Use a medicine syringe, like what you used to give a baby medicine. Ohhh this does mean day and night every two hours its called supportive care!

If you are limited on funds, but can afford some stuff from the drug store or even have some in your own medicine chest.

I searched the internet to make your search much simpler.  Here are some natural remedies to help with Parvo-Virus

Probiotics – Probiotics are great to help dogs with Parvo. Probiotics help to replenish the intestines and prevent secondary infections. There are many different foods given rich in probiotics to be given at home as well. Some probiotics include plain yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.

How much probiotic yogurt should you feed your dog?
You should only feed your puppy enough to coat their food. You can give 1 tbsp to small dog, 2 tbsp to medium dog, 3 to a large dog, you could give them some more if you want to and they enjoy a little bit and it don’t effect their bowels! Probiotics are often used to treat things like diarrhea so it’s unlikely to create a problem unless Fido is lactose intolerant.

Probiotic yogurt could cure itchy skin, ears or general licking.
If you’ve got a dog who scratches their ears relatively often but who doesn’t have any sort of infection (ruled out by your vet, obviously), or a dog who licks their paws for no apparent reason, or a dog who scratches a lot for no apparent reason, probiotic yogurt may be able to cure that if the cause is something like a yeast overgrowth. I have seen this myself, but it should be noted that you’ve got to serve the yogurt every day until cured, which may take a few days or weeks, and you may need to do it for life if your dog is just prone to yeasty skin. But even if they’re not, a serving of probiotic yogurt is healthy for so many other reasons that I really can’t see why one wouldn’t add it to Fido’s food regardless (unless, of course, they’ve got an allergy).

Vitamins B and C – These vitamins help to boost your dog’s immune system and prevent further infection.
Echinacea – This also boots the immune system. It can be given in tea, tablets or liquid form.

Glucosamine – Glucosamine helps coat the intestines and provides relief against inflamed stomach and intestinal tract.

Ginger – This helps with nausea and vomiting, much the same as it does in humans. Ginger also helps to boost the immune system to prevent secondary infections.

Colostrum – Colostrum can be found in health food stores. It is used to help replenish the body with protein, as well as helps to control sugar levels in your sick puppy.

Aloe vera juice – Aloe vera juice helps to coat the stomach from acidic effects. It is anti-inflammatory and helps to prevent nausea. It should only be given if your dog’s diarrhea is over.

Electrolytes– Pedialyte & Gatorade can be given to dogs who may suffer from dehydration. They replace fluids and minerals in your dog’s system after he vomits or has diarrhea.

Chicken broth – This can be given to dogs to help with rehydration.

Pepto-Bismol – This can help with Diarrhea, some people say yes to it and some say no, I say it worked!!

You can also give them CLEAR, BLUE OR GREEN Gatorade or Pedialyte, the reason for these color choices is so you can distinguish whether or not there is any blood if they vomit. Any reds, yellows, oranges or purples could resemble blood in vomit. We want no mistakes! You really have to keep them from vomiting or having diarrhea.

Our Vet advised us to feed one tablespoon of white (20 min) rice with chicken bouillon, every one hour as long as they keep it down. My puppy puked rice up and harfed and harfed, like it was lodged. The other puppy just turned it away, as if she was grossed out by it and so I didnt force her to eat it or nothing because she wasnt ready, and it would be like if you had the flu.  I didn’t give any more rice at all, instead gave small amounts like 20 pieces of Science Diet Puppy Food, which they never once vomited.  Again this was such a small amount initially given, I worked up to 1/8 of a cup and next day 1/4 of a cup and so forth!

You also need to keep your puppy confined to a room dont crate them give them lots of love, encourage drinking and wash your hands often. Us humans cannot catch Parvo-Virus, but you can get something called Fifth Disease. http://www.cdc.gov/parvovirusb19/fifth-disease.html

All in all you have a lot of work a head of you for several days, up to a two weeks. Stop nausea, stop diarrhea, stop dehydration, keep them pumped with fluids, remember to get antibiotics to stop any secondary infections.

Remember you can get your pup through this. Pay close attention to your puppies pooh, yes even before you ever notice illness! Now if your puppy is having straight blood for diarrhea call the vet, tell them your pup has parvo you cannot afford to bring them in or even attempt car ride you have no way. Please can you come get the reglan and amoxicillian and pick up from drug store the pepto, gatorade or pedialyte. That’s what they gave us and advised us to use.

It still crushes my heart when I think about my Meathead, he was mine from the moment I first seen him, I just loved him. We didnt know what to do for parvo, and when you rush around internet you see all these things that are unheard of honestly.

We called our regular vet, it was late on a saturday, he said give tablespoon of pepto twice daily and make him drink, which he did on his own, but when he drank he would throw up immediately he was pooping nothing but blood. The pepto didn’t help him, I think it was cause it was to late :( Our regular vet never told us how to care for him totally. If I knew there were remedies to stop nausea and diarrhea, and how that would help to keep him hydrated.  Maybe we could have saved him………

So now you have the basics!

Also the Parvo-Virus is like chicken pocks, you dont usually get it twice, it has happened but not likely.

How to clean up after Parvo-Virus

Get your sprayer at lowes or order one from there online store here!

Use 1 Part Bleach 3 Parts Water, spray entire yard, once should be enough just make sure you can cover the entire yard, if you have to make more do it!!

Wash all the bedding, towels or whatever the animal has used in bleach or dispose of it in a tightly tied garbage bag!
How is Parvo-Virus Transferred
Birds, Butterflies and other animals. How can Birds or butterflies carry it? Birds actually peck the pooh and carry it on their beaks and feet, from yard to yard. Your puppy walks in it then later is licking his paws clean, its fecal to mouth transmission! Butterflies I guess is a little different and they are my guess as to help carry this horrible virus around. I notice butterflies always landing on piles of pooh especially piles that look fresh EWWWWWW! So remember to always remove landmines from your yard regularly!

What do you need to care for your puppy with Parvo-Virus?
1.) Pedialyte or Gatorade
(Clear, Blue or Greens only)

2.) Anti Diarrhea Medicine
(Pepto-Misol works Great)

3.) Anti Nausea Medicine
(Reglan from vet, Other wise use some of the remedies listed above for nausea.)

4.) Antibiotics for Secondary infections
(Amoxicillin from vet, other wise probiotics and other remedies listed above for secondary infection
prevention.)

5.) Medicine Syringes
(like what you give a baby medicines with)

As far as Dosage amounts for these meds really just depends Our pups were 20lbs and each got
2cc or 2ml Reglan
Quarter TBSP Pepto-Bismol
2cc or 2ml Amoxicillin
1 cup of fluids every 2 hours, at least make your goal 1 cup

If you keep the fluids down and there aren’t vomiting or having diarrhea you are looking good, just keep up what you are doing and remember there isn’t any guarantee, it just depends on the puppy!

Remember to keep them comfy, lots of love, fluids and TLC!!

Good Luck!!
If you are in the South East Alabama Area I Highly Recommend
Dothan Animal Hospital
Serving Dothan since 1943
Ben Garrett DVM
Brad Harris DVM
1846 South Oates Street
Dothan Alabama 36301
334.793.9779

They are my new vet of choice since my regular vet didn’t even tell me how to care for my puppy! The people at the Dothan Animal Hospital are AWESOME They warned me that we could still lose our puppies, but do all the things I have listed and keep them going! We did it and so can you! It takes your time and effort and their strength and will to live through this! We tried to keep them happy, I sat on kitchen floor and played a little, we watched animal planet on the kitchen floor, yes we have a tv in the kitchen. I am so happy my babies made it through!

A little more information about vaccines for your puppy! One of the things we done was vaccinated the pups ourselves, which I played doctor. I will be video taping the next vaccination to show how its done.  Some vets may not recommend you do this yourself.  There are lots of videos to watch on youtube before attempting it, as well as personal experience watching first hand the vet do it.  Pick up skin, insert needle through skin (completely, it may be tough) and pull slightly back to make sure your not getting blood and if not then inject! its easy a little knee weakening but I had to do it, hubby was well a chicken!

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