puppy haveing reaction to puppy shot - Page 4

yes we did have Parvo, a guy came out to look at puppies and on his way here stopped at the spca...not much of a surprise that they got it after that... this is an airborn virus, what i have read was that it can infect dogs within a 20 mile radius. I am going to check with the vets in this area to see if they have had any puppies come in with it in the last week or so. And we are now bleaching everything in site, vet said to have all puppies stay here for the next 2 weeks, any that are going to get it will have it by then. You know I am trying to educate people...I think that we have alot of these things spread because breeders don't say that they have had this or that in thier kennel, and then people walk in and look aroud leave and go to the next place and spread this stuff like crazy. But I will tell you that any breeder that has been breeding for a period of time will end up with something at one time or another. I vaccinate all my dogs and have a very tight scheduale on this. I really don't know what else I can do. Ellie may, you say that like I have all my dogs in cages and am running a puppy mill with no care to thier health. I really hope this isn't how you ment for this to come accross Heather

Heather, I didn't accuse you of any of the things you mention. I guess big business causes big stirs, huh? BTW, I thought the lab you were training for a friend brought the Parvo into your kennel...just curious... As far as what else you can do, I realize that all breeders get some sort of bug eventually, but when you lose as many puppies as it seems you have in the last couple of years; it appears you need to re-evaluate something that is going on. I'm obviously not privy to all your practices and vaccination schedules, etcetera but I would be doing some investigation into my location, the genetics of the parents, and other animals that are around and so on if I were you.

I know people who have bleach pans set outside. You come onto their property you step in the bleach pans. Another sprays lysol onto the soles. Some will tell you if you've looked at another litter that day to come out when they haven't.

How was distemper diagnosed? I'm not sure the symptoms were typical. In other words, are you certain it was distemper? Something doesn't feel quite right to me.

Het, You're going to hate me forever and a day, but if I may be so bold: Get rid of the chickens! Like cats they can carry a whole host of diseases without being affected themselves. All the bleaching in the world isn't going to help with an ongoing and always ready pool of disease carriers nearby! You'd be amazed at the incredible quarantine procedures that large poultry producers observe in order to isolate their various huge sheds. Your point about prospective buyers transferring these problems from one place to another is very valid as well though. Otherwise, I have immense sympathy for your current (only temporary?) predicament. LOL.

Even if the pup had Parvo, after the pup dies the parvo dies, so the test for it would come back negative if the vet tested a puppy that has died, per the words of my veteriarian. I recently went through this with a rescue dog, dog was fine until 5 pm one evening, started having seizures and diarehhea/foaming at mouth (possibly caused from the seizures), but the cause of death was undetermined as all the tests they ran came back negative. I make all vistors use clorox bleach in a step in tub on their shoes and clorox wipes on arms and hands before touching any of my pups or dogs, and before they leave, general practice for me, as we live in a rural area and many people do not vaccinate properly. Het I so SORRY you had to go through this and I truly hope all of your other pups are well and stay that way. My prayers to you and your fur family.:)

Coccidia is host specific so eliminating the chickens will not prevent your pups from getting it. And free range chickens are terrific at eating fleas,ticks, worms and worm eggs. coccidia is going to occur in your local due to the heat and humidity. The same is true with hooks, rounds and whipworms. You rarely have a hard freeze to kill these buggers off. the problem with cooccidia, giardia, roundworms and all other parasites is that they weaken the immune system and set the pup up for more serious illnesses. You need to probably follow a prophylactic vaccine and worming schedule that is more aggressive than others due to your history of problems. When was the dam vaccinated? Distemper adn parvo can easily occur in spite of vaccines due to the maternal antibody. By the same token, strong maternal antibodies should give protection till 12 weeks for distemper. Dams should be vaccinated within a couple of months of being bred but not within the last three weeks prior to being bred. With many going on a "no vaccine as adults" protacol we are seeing a rise in not only parvo but definately distmeper. And many young vets have never seen it and will miss the rather classic symptoms. Feed your other pups a high quality well-balanced dog food, they need extra weight on now should they come down with the disease to survive. keep the area inwhich they are housed spotless and be vigilant to any signs of illness. Remember that pups that develop distemper or are assymptomatic can develop seizures now or later. Next you have to worry about demodex! welcome to the South! Susan

I want to thank everyone for thier kind thoughts and words, for those of you who have nothing constructive to say just don't say anything at all. I will talk to my vet about the chickens, if there is anyway that they are the cause of this they will be taken care of. I did get them for the oganic bug control, and they have made a big difference with all the bugs in the area...So far we have no fleas this year, we have always used the frontline on the dogs and they have still had them so I am chalking that up to the chickens. we know it is distemper because a litter mate was brought back after he had a loose stool and the vet tested and it came back positive. So all have come in contact with it. I have started treating all the pups with albon and so far everyone looks good. I hope we get past this ok. the mothers get vacinated once a year. All dogs were updated about 6 months ago. I have started giving the 6,8,10,12,14 week puppy shots and then another at 6 months, because of the parvo. I do give the vaccines myself, and have them overnighted t me and meet the fedex guy at the door and they go right into the frig. This was a new order of shots for this group of pups. I am going to notify all the vets in my area along with other breeders, so that they know to look for it. I am very careful about not going around other breeders places ect. And don't let people come out if they have gone to another kennel. Does anyone know the justation period for Distemper?? Heather

heather, Are you sure it was diagnosed as distemper? distemper cannot be diagnosed through a simple fecal exam. There is no snap test for it either as there is with Parvo and Giardia. It sounds much more like Parvo. It could be diagnosed through a lab exam possibly of the fecal material but that would take at least 12-24 hours. Treating distemper is pretty much the same as parvo...supportive therapy, IV fluids, antibiotics prophylactically and something to help prevent vomiting and diarrhea. distemper is harder to kill than parvo virus but the vaccine is more effective. It sounds like you have had a vaccine failure if you have done all you said you have done. I'd vaccinate my entire kennel for Distemper but be aware that antibodies and protection will not be in place for at least two weeks. The incubation period is fairly long as well, like two weeks but I'm not certain. Parvo is shorter, usualy about a week. good luck. susan

I don't know what the vet did...it wasn't my vet. but the she said it was distemper. I have an appointment with my vet in the morning and he will start the pup on all. I do know that a parvo test was done and it was neg. it must have been a vacc failure. We are very good about vaccinations...Wanting to prevent something like this. I will also check the Perma Guard. thanks. I have to admit that I will be changing my visiting puppies. But if this is an airborn virus then that wouldn't have made a difference really?? they still could have gotten it. right? We are very careful about not going into places where there are alot of pups when we have pups here. But I guess that hasn't been enough. I did find some stuff that is organic that will help build the immune system...I have ordered it and will start giving it to all the pups, some of the testimonies on the site sounded good..hhopefully they are true. Heather