The Distemper Puppies Thread

[Kimmikins]

Well, some "good" news, if you can call it that.

I was right, the puppy she'd shown me wasn't Rascal...well, it was the one my friend thought was Rascal, but it wasn't the one we have our eye on. There are two identical puppies in the litter, but one has a darker head and ears, and the other has a really dark muzzle but is generally a bit lighter. Ours is the dark headed one...and he's doing the better of the 3 boys. Which is a relief, in a way, but tainted with knowing how poorly the other 2 are. My friend will hopefully have an update around lunchtime today, and the wait is agonising!

It just makes me more determined that if we can find a third home, we'll bring them all over. We can manage with 3 dogs for a short while, we just couldn't cope with 4.

I really really REALLY hope your good feeling turns out to be right, a happy ending would be so great. I did have the same good feeling, and then I thought I'd jinxed them with my good feeling, so now I'm trying not to have any feeling, good or bad!

[kristina]

Me to Kimmikins I am sure some of these pups will survive and with soooo much love and goodwill going across the channel you will have yours.Kristina

[Kimmikins]

Aww, thanks for the good vibes Kristina, I told my friend that these pups have a whole lot of love from this side of the channel!

Today the pups have stayed the same, they haven't gone downhill (which for Rascal means he's still doing ok) but they haven't got any better either. Which for the other 2 boys isn't good news, and Diefenbeger (the one who looks like Rascal, we've renamed him) is looking particularly poorly and it's not looking good for him right now.

So keep those positive vibes coming please!

[Kimmikins]

Yesterday was another mixed bag update. Diefenbeger is still holding on, as is the final boy puppy. Rascal too is holding on, but he's lost some of his stamina and he's getting spasms in his tummy like he wants to throw up but doesn't - he's still eating fine though, and his temperature has come down after a brief fever. They're all on iv antibiotics and fluids still, and Rascal never got the classic gunky eyes and nose and we're over 14 days in now.

From what I've been reading, this should mean they've got through the respiratory phase of the virus, and are now in the gastro phase - this can have symptoms of vomiting, diaorrhea, and the associated dehydration from these. They're already on stuff to combat this though, so I'm hopeful that they'll make it through this part too. If they can just keep them strong enough and fed enough and hydrated enough to let their bodies fight it off, and keep them medicated so that no secondary infections have a chance to take advantage, they stand as good a chance of any of making it through.

I don't know if I'm clutching at straws, but the fact that they've shown so few symptoms, well Rascal and Luna at least, makes me want to believe that either they're strong enough immunity-wise or that the strain of virus isn't as lethal as it could be. Does that seem realistic from what I've posted so far?
There's a british woman at the clinic with them, she works there and has taken the puppies under her wing; keeping them positive and showing them affection is key to keeping them wanting to fight, so she gives them lots of attention and care.

[Kimmikins]

Well, what a roller coaster couple of days it has been!

Yesterday I got a message saying that she had gone to the vets that day with the mindset that it was time to put the poorly brown pup (Deefer) out of his suffering, and have him PTS; he'd lost control of his body, and she didn't think it fair to keep him fighting any more. When she got to the vets, however, she couldn't bring herself to do it - he was still drinking water on his own, still trying to move and was aware of his environment...she just didn't think it was quite time to give up on him yet, and gave him another 24hours to see how he faired.

Rascal had taken a brief downturn, in that the day before he'd lost the ability to swallow so his face was covered with saliva, he'd developed a facial twitch and had started refusing to eat or drink. Yesterday the twitch had gone, he'd regained the ability to swallow so his face was dry, but he had the nasty discharge from his left eye. This illness just throws all rules out of the window...one day it's one thing, the next day that looks better but something else has developed, it's horrible! I can't imagine how tough it must be to have to physically deal with these 3 pups, because I'm so mentally and emotionally tired just from hearing about it through her.

So, she decided to bring the pups home overnight. If she was going to lost Deefer, she wanted him to not have spent his final night(s) alone in a vet clinic. Today the news was that, while none of them have made any obvious signs of improvement, they also haven't deteriorated (another mixed bag of news...the usual kind of news nowadays) The best news is that Rascal ate all of his food last night with gusto, and polished off the bowl He also had something to drink, and apparently it's taken the edge off of his skinny ribs - she sent us some videos of him last night, and my word he is SKINNY!! It was really shocking to see. But what it also showed was how bright his eyes are - they're tired, exhausted little eyes, but they're not dull and lifeless like I'd feared. She took them back to the vets today to go back on their drips, so they get home comforts at night and medical treatment during the day.

So that's the news so far - Luna is still at the shelter facility, and is still doing fine. Flip, the smallest boy pup, shows no neurological signs (twitches, spasms etc), and Deefer is still holding on. My word, if these boys survive they're going to have such amazing lives, I'm going to make sure of it.

[Jordan]

It certainly is a rollercoaster ride these poor wee guys are having. They sure are fighters! I do hope they all ve a fantastic life when all this is behind them. Fingers are still crossed.

[Kimmikins]

Sad news...they lost one if the puppies this morning. The little white one, Flip, starting having multiple seizures early this morning so was rushed to a 24hour vets to be PTS - the seizures wouldn't stop and it was the kindest thing for the poor little soul. He'd fought hard and long enough

Rascal still hasn't improved, and threw up all his food yesterday, but perked up at the vets, protested about injections and ate some dry kibble...and didn't throw it bak up! His breathing is heavy, but his lungs are fairly clear so it's just the effort of his immune system fighting. In the photos we were sent he doesn't look so skinny, things are less pointy on him, which is nice to see.

Deefer remains the same, she reckons a day or two and he'll give up fighting so hard and they will probably lose him too. The odds aren't in the boy's favour right now...

[Jordan]

Oh no what a shame, poor wee soul. Dont be discouraged Kimmikins he needs your good vibes, hes not one to give up the fight, he loves life too much, remember these mischievious eyes. Hope Rascal continues to hold on.

[kristina]

Ditto on that last reply.Kristina

[Kimmikins]

No news since Monday...not sure if that's good or bad!

[Kimmikins]

It was bad....

Deef, the little brown pup...they lost him at some point last week. And Rascal is in bad shape. He has a tic in his rear leg, he loses his balance and he screams in pain if you touch him.

My big-eared little darling, I never knew it was possible to love something you'd never even met.

[Jordan]

Oh Kimmikins I'm so sorry. Why didn't they let you know sooner? It must be very hard for you not having him near you at the end but hes with you every minute now watching over you and will wait for you at Rainbow bridge for that very special hugs and kisses. Xxxxxx

[Kimmikins]

Rascal will most likely be PTS today. He's so far gone, and in constant distress - he can barely eat on his own, and he's lost control of most of his muscles. Me and Tim made the decision for our friend, she's struggled enough with this burden we wanted to take the final decision ourselves. Unless there's been some miracle overnight, my big-eared boy will go to Rainbow Bridge today.

I didn't think I'd be this upset, but I'm absolutely heartbroken. We've been watching him for for 4 weeks, and there was always a glimmer of hope. Now there seems to be none

Part of me wants to find another puppy to give a better life to...part of me thinks we won't find another Rascal. I don't know what to do...

[Adrianne]

His life however short has left a legacy, and he was loved..any creature, surely leaves us better for having had love.
I'm so sorry that you have to go through the pain of losing him...but let that legacy save another needing his love...you have it in abundance..and there is a pup out there needing just a little share of it.
Sending my love with Rascal xx

[Jordan]

Oh heck did i get mixed up in my last post, so sorry Kimikins.

I agree with Adrianne you may not find another rascal but you will find another pup in need of love. Take some time to grieve for your little lost soul, you will know what to do when the time is right.