ATTENTION ALL PARVO SURVIVER OWNERS!!!!

[JonandMichelle]

Can owners of Parvo survivers please help me? As many of you know I have a four month little boy fighting for his life as I write. Ever since I brought him in to the Vets,his condition as been a rollercoaster ride. During the day his fever will spike up to around 104-105 degrees and at night it will levey out to normal. When he was first brought in, he had a few episodes with bloody diarrhea. Then the next day he had none. Then yesterday he had a couple more episodes (just little ones) then did good the remaining of the day. This morning the Vet called me and said his fever is back up and had alot of diarrhea (bloody) and had vomited more than what he has in the past.
My question is, why does the fever spike only at night? Is this just like when us humans get a cold or the flu, night times are always the worst? Can any parvo owner tell me if they had the same type of senero with their survivor? I dont know what to do. Do I keep him on the meds and IV's longer or do I just let him go in peace. Is his rollercoaster ride of health normal in Parvo cases? Did your little one do the same thing and still recover? Just need some input from people who have been here and back.
Any comments and suggestions would be GREATLY accepted. Also to add, he was brought in late Saturday night (11:45 pm) and it is now Tuesday morning. Is this time period to early to being making life or death seneros for him?

------------------
Michelle L. Sarabia

[CathyC]

Michelle - your post got a little confusing. You said that your pup's fever spikes during the day and then in the second half you asked why it spikes only at night. I know you are frantic and very upset but I just wanted to clarify. I am going to guess that the fever is spiking during the day, which is what you said first. This is normal. Or maybe I should say that this happens frequently with sick creatures.

You said that he vomited more than what he has in the past. Did they try to offer him some food or is he just vomitting bile? Have they been withholding food and water since Saturday when you brought him in?

I worked as a veterinary technician for five years and helped to treat more cases of parvo than I care to remember. There were cases exactly like yours where puppies seemed to improve then took turns for the worst and in the end recovered and became beautiful healthy dogs. There were cases of pups that got better slowly with no regression. There are all kinds of possible scenarios with this disease. Every case is different. It's impossible to predict the outcome. You are the best judge of whether or not you should continue to help your pup fight. Listen to what your vet has to say and I'm sure you will make the right decision.

The meds will help to make him comfortable and the IV will keep him hydrated and nourished. The rest your pup will have to do for himself. Go visit him. I do think it is too early to give up but like I said you know best.

[JonandMichelle]

Im sorry for the confussion. Like you said, my mind is going every direction and I havent had much sleep lately.
They take his temp twice daily. Everyday his fever is always good during the day time, but at night it spikes back up. I did talk to the Vet today when I went to visit him. She told me that it was just a coincidence and it doesnt mean anything. No, they have not tried to feed him or give him water yet. Only IV fluids for now. Said they will not even try to give him anything until he has stoped the vomiting and diarreha for at least 24hrs. He has good times in the day, and then he goes back being 100% larthgic. Like today, I went to visit him and I had to wait for them to clean him up due to the fact he had just had diarreha. The vet tech told me right before he had the b.m. he was sitting up and wagging his little nub. When I got to see him, he would just lay there, not even moving to see me. I feel in my heart to give him more time to fight this. I just dont want him suffering because I WANT him to fight, not him. I have good days and bad days also. One day I feel confident he WILL survive this, and then other days I feel he wont make it. Not only is he on a rollercoaster ride, so am I. I just miss him so much!!!

Thanks for tring to help me. It is GREATLY APPRIECATED. I just would like to get feed back from people who have expierenced this as I am now doing and to get their opinions. This is so hard.

------------------
Michelle L. Sarabia

[Nancy Estes]

Your vet would have the best idea of your puppy's condition and of the prognosis for his recovery. But, years ago I had a Basset puppy with Parvo that I treated at home. She had fluids sub-q, all the usual symptoms, and at one point sloughed about a foot's worth of intestinal lining. She, her sister and a Rottweiler puppy all had Parvo within a few days of each other. They all survived and led normal lives. This was in 1981 when not much was known about Parvo and the treatment available wasn't as good as it is now.

Nancy

------------------
von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net

[cdb]

Parvo pups tend to feel bad until the day they get better. Don't give up as the disease process usually takes 4-5 days to run it's course. The vet can't do anything to speed that up as the time the pup is i is controlled by time required for repopulation of the cells lining the gut.