The Distemper Puppies Thread

[Kimmikins]

Terrible news! The puppies have caught distemper from the shelter they're in. It's fatal in 80% of puppies, and they're already weak from being so skeletal. They're not looking poorly at the moment, so we can only hope that they make it through.

God I hope they make it. All of them. But especially Luna and Big Ears aka Rascal.







Admin Note: Split Thread from "So we're getting a puppy"

[Jordan]

Oh no Kimmikins, poor wee pups. Hope they are strong enough to beat this, would be awful to lose them now they've been rescued and so close to forever homes. Fingers crossed , keep us informed.

[Kimmikins]

It's been so horrible, thinking of them never knowing love and family and even names!

Today we heard that they are still doing well - active and eating - so that's positive news. Also, the other dog that initially had symptoms is now recovering in the vet clinic. The pups aren't in a clinic yet, apparently over there they don't like having them in because of the risk to other patients. However, we've been told that any of the pups that look like they need more intervention will be taken in, so that's reassuring. They've been given 2 immuno-stimulant injections to boost their immune systems, as there is no treatment for distemper it's all reliant on how strong they are and how well they fight it off.

I've decided that whichever pups survive, even if it's all of them, I want to have them all brought over here and we'll rehome them from here. We may have found a third home before we found out about the distemper, so if that one goes ahead I couldn't bear to think of the 4th one all alone while his brother's and sister settle in with families.

[Jordan]

Was holding my breath as i scrolled down to your post Kimmikins. So pleased theyre all doing well so far, do hope everyone makes it through. Sounds like a good plan to keep them all together and rehome from here, i would find it very hard to split them up. Fingers crossed next update is the all clear.

[Kimmikins]

I think there's still the potential for them to get worse, but hopefully it'll be worse before getting better. I'm trying to be both positive yet realistic at the same time...it's hard.

It's also hard knowing we'll have to wait 6 weeks after they're clear before they can travel!

[Jordan]

Waiting and not knowing is always the hardest part!!!

[Kimmikins]

So today they're not as perky and active as the previous days, my friend observes them as being "not themselves". She gave them some stuff that's supposed to help boost their immune system - vitamin c etc, to try and keep them strong enough to fight the virus. It's been 5 days since she first noticed that they had green in their noses and thus distemper. It really is a waiting game - they started strong, but that might not last

[Jordan]

Theres always hope Kimmikins, just keep sending good vibes their way, they werent rescued for nothing.

[Jordan]

Hows the pups doing Kimmikins? Any news?

[Kimmikins]

I worry if I say there's positive news it will jinx it! But the last 2 updates have been promising - they perked back up a bit a day or two later, and my friend took them some home made food which they gobbled up!
They've also yet to have any of the discharge or tremors, and we're at least 8 or 9 days in, which is also hopeful. The vet visited their facility yesterday and have his verdict that he's happy that things are pretty much under control. So I'm hopeful for them, but also keeping an open mind that things could still change. And there's still a couple of weeks left until we can say they're in the clear.
So yeh, it's looking hopeful but it's still one day at a time until they tell me they're out the other side!

[kristina]

Oh Lordy Kimmikins have just caught up with this hope these pups survive,please keep us updated.Kristina

[kristina]

Everything crossed for those pups and you too.Kristina

[Jordan]

So far so good, 2 weeks is still a long time for things to go wrong, fingers crossed it wont!

[Kimmikins]

Not so good news today

The last few days the puppies have been not 100%; not terrible, but not as bright eyed and bushy tailed as we'd like. This morning my friend got a call from the kennel owner saying the boys had deteriorated over night, so they were rushed into the vet clinic - apparently she was thinking about doing it on Sunday, but knew there wouldn't be a decent vet open on a Sunday.

Rascal appears to have some discharge from his eye - I say appears, because we're not sure from the photos if she hasn't got the two brown boys mixed up! They don't have fevers, but are lethargic and not eating as well as they have been. She's shown me photos, and from one to to the next they've clearly gone "flat" and have no energy. It made my heart jump into my throat reading her message, because I was so hopeful that they were going to be one of those happy stories, where they get a milder strain, don't suffer too much and pull through. It's starting to look like they may have a fight on their paws after all. He's on IV fluids, antibiotics, has had another immunostimulant shot, more vitamin C and whatever else they can think might help them....which is all you can really do with distemper, fight the symptoms and try and stop secondary nasties catching hold.

The only positive is that soon after she'd sent me the first message, as I was replying she sent another one saying the vet had just called to say that after she'd left Rascal had perked up and was upright in his cage. There's clearly fight in them yet, we just have to keep hoping that that's enough, along with the best vet care available and so much love from this side of the Channel! It's seriously draining to be pulling for a puppy so far away...and one we haven't even met!

So, that's the news for today...I hope it wasn't my positive hopes that jinxed it

[Jordan]

Oh no poor wee souls, come on little ones keep up the fight, were all rootin for you. Hang in there Kimmikins i've a good feeling about this.xx