Update on Pineapple Pink!!!! Pineapple Pink is doing much better. Even though she seemed to be feeling okay at the emergency clinic in Columbia, they just couldnt get her to eat, so one of the techs there was kind enough to take her home to see if she would eat in a different environment and she did!!! On Monday, she will move to Kaylas foster home, which has become our parvo quarantine go to this last year...sorry Kayla, but we really appreciate it!!! This incident with parvo has been an eye opener for me and I thought it might be a good time to discuss how we can all help prevent and spread the word to educate about this deadly virus. I havent learned anything I didnt already know....but I did learn that too many people dont know about Parvo. So, heres what has transpired in a weeks time. Last Saturday a rescue friend picked up two puppies in a parking lot in Columbia and asked us for help, those two pups broke quickly with Parvo, Natty, the first to get sick did not survive, but as you can see it looks like Pineapple Pink is well on her way to living a happy healthy life. Now, what I didnt know, is that several other people, who were only trying to do the right thing, took the other siblings and carried them to their homes. One of those puppies arrived at the ER on that same day very sick with Parvo and passed away. Many of the other puppies that were picked up from the litter that day were immediately allowed outside with other other unprotected dogs, then those puppies started breaking and now the unprotected dogs that they were around are breaking....and because they have all been outside, theyve been shedding the virus into the soil of their yards, contaminating their yards for years where it will not be safe for other non protected dogs and puppies and because Parvo is a virus that can actually crawl and loves nothing more than to be swept from into other areas with the rain....the soil and yards around the contaminated yards, also will become contaminated. Putting lots and lots and lots of dogs at risk. I WANT TO REITERATE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO TOOK ONE OF THOSE FOUND PUPPIES HOME ONLY THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING A GREAT THING BY SAVING A PUPPY, they made a mistake because they didnt know, not because they didnt care. Which is why I wanted to write this post. We have a very strict protocol when it comes to puppies that come into our program and this is the exact reason why....so here are some of the what to dos if you bring home a puppy, no matter where it comes from...shelter, street, parking lot, breeder, pet store.....you need to follow these guidelines (legitimate rescues will not allow puppies to be adopted until these guidelines have already been followed in their program, so make sure you ask questions and do your research when adopting a puppy. If any RESCUE (not shelter, shelters dont have this kind of time to hold spots for a 10 day qt) is adopting a puppy before they have had two sets of shots (they should be able to provide proof as well) its a red flag...if they are adopting a puppy that they have had for less than 10 days...that is a red flag flying from the moon and back. 1. Every puppy/young dog, needs to go through 10 days of quarantine, once coming home, before it is allowed with other dogs in the home or allowed free range of the home and certainly does not need to be allowed outside on the soil. Once a dog is exposed to Parvo, there is a 10 day incubation period before it breaks with symptoms. If you are taking a pup off the street, out of a shelter, a drain pipe, a pet store, or from a breeder....you have no way of knowing whether it has been exposed or not since it doesnt even have to be sharing a space with a sick dog to have picked up the various in a contaminated space. In rescue we use x-pens with wee pads in area of the foster home where the other dogs are not hanging out. Yes, its a pain and the puppies get frustrated being contained, but its only 10 days and it isnt nearly as big of a pain as having your whole house and yard contaminated. It is also important that you clean this area and the area surrounding it with a 20% clorox 80% water mixture several times a day. Make sure when you leave the area that you clean the soles of your shoes and wash your hands immediately and very well so that you do not contaminate your space with what may or may not be on your person!!!! Also, please make sure that you take the puppy into the vet immediately for vaccines when you have it in your possession and take on the responsibility of caring for the puppy. *Having a parvo test done on a puppy the minute you get it DOES NOT confirm that the puppy is not harboring the virus if it comes back negative. Snap tests will not be positive until the puppy is shedding the virus and showing symptoms. 2. Now....hopefully your 10 days has passed and your puppy is happy and healthy. You are now safe to allow the puppy roaming room in your home with your dogs. Because your puppy is still not adequately vaccinated to protect itself from parvo you must be very very careful when it comes to taking it outside. He may no longer be at risk of shedding a virus without your knowledge, but he is not protected against the virus. Outdoor time should be limited to protected spaces until the puppy has had a second set of shots so that it is not at risk of coming into contact with contaminated soil. Puppies need 3 sets of boosters before they are considered to have proper immunity, we actually recommend 4 with young puppies who come into our program and we cant confirm the age because it is known that a puppy needs to receive its third booster at 12 weeks...if a puppy receives its third booster prior to 12 weeks there is a good chance that it will not have proper immunity. No dog is truly immune until it has had its one year booster, but they are better protected. 3. Okay, so lets say that you arent so lucky and the puppy you have acquired does break with Parvo. The first symptom tends to be lack of appetite, followed with vomiting and/or diarrhea. If your puppy starts with any of these symptoms it is important to take it to a vet for testing. The protocol for treating parvo today is excellent and if caught within the first 24 hours of symptoms, the chances of survival are good with the proper care. Normally, I bring parvo puppies to my home and care for them, unless I already have puppies here and cannot risk the chance of cross contamination. In which case we hospitalize. I ONLY BRING THEM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, and SUPPLIES TO CARE FOR THEM PROPERLY WITH THE CORRECT MEDICATIONS AND FLUIDS. Most people will at least need for a vet to care for a parvo puppy until it is deemed safe for them to take it home and follow the rules. Hospitalization for a parvo puppy is VERY EXPENSIVE. (Caring for a parvo puppy is a completely different topic for another post....here we are just discussing the importance of and hows and whys of NOT spreading the disease.)....once your parvo puppy is healthy enough to come back home it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you understand that the puppy will continue to shed the virus for several weeks and needs to be in quarantine so that it is not contaminating other areas of the home or yard. You will need to follow the same rules as the initial 10 days of quarantine when it comes to cleaning and handling. Once a puppy is exposed to parvo and is carrying the virus it is contagious for 28 days!!!!! So this means, that basically for a month, even though your puppy may seem happy and healthy (and hopefully at this point it is) it CANNOT go outside and contaminate the soil, it CANNOT roam around the house and contaminate your home (you never know who might come to visit and take the virus outside of your home and into the public and their own home. Even your healthy dog who is protected, could have the virus on his/her feet or coat and take it out into the world...thats seriously how easy parvo is spread). These are just the basics, but knowing the basics can save A LOT of innocent lives that you may not have even known were at risk. Parvo is a horrible and deadly virus with no cure....education and prevention is key, so please share this information.
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 00:00:01 +0000
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