OUR FIRST ROTTIE - DISTEMPER?

HI, WE JUST GOT OUR NEW BABY (18 MONTHS) ON SUNDAY FROM AN ADOPATION FUND HERE IN CA. HE WAS SO THIN BUT WE LOVED HIM AT FIRST SIGHT. BEAR WITH ME THIS IS A LONG STORY BUT I NEED ANY OR ALL THE HELP I CAN GET. WE GOT HIM HOME. THE DOG THAT WE THOUGHT WAS DOCILE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SICK DOG. WE TOOK HIM TO THE LOCAL JERK, I MEAN VET THE NEXT DAY WHICH WAS MONDAY. HIS RESPONCE TO US WITHOUT TAKING ANY TESTS WAS GET RID OF HIM, "HE IS TO SICK AND WILL COST YOU ALOT OF MONEY"GET YOUR SELF A HEALTHY DOG. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO THAT VET. I CALLED THE ADOPATION FUND WHERE WE GOT HIM AND ASKED THEM FOR THE BEST VET THAT THEY KNOW. DANNY BOY AND I WENT TO THE NEW VET AND IT WAS NOT VERY GOOD NEWS. I WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS DISTEMPER. I STARTED CRYING RIGHT THERE AND THEN. AFTER I CALMED DOWN, I ASKED THE QUESTIONS "WHAT CAN WE DO FOR HIM AND WHAT ARE HIS CHANCES" I WAS TOLD 50/50 AND TO GIVE HIM MEDICATION 3 TIMES AND TO FEED HIM HAMBUGER AND RICE 3 TIMES A DAY( HE WOULD NOT EAT ANYTHING WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT HIM HOME). WELL WE DID THAT FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS (THE RICE AND HAMBUGER THING BUT CONTINUING THE MEDS.) WELL WE HAVE A DIFFERENT DOG THEN WE HAD ON SUNDAY. OUR DANNY BOY IS NOW JUMPING AROUND PLAYING WITH HIS NEW TOYS, WAGGING HIS TAIL CHEW ON EVERY THING , AS I WAS TYPING THIS EMAIL HE CHEWED THE TOP OF MY CORD LESS PHONE . BEFORE HE WOULD JUST LIE AROUND AND NOT MOVE MUCH. OK HERE IS THE QUESTIONS SORRY FOR THE LONG STORY. HAS ANYONE HEARD OF A DOG WITH DISTEMPER THAT WOULD BOUNCE BACK IN 2 DAYS, COULD THE VET ME MISTAKEN AND COULD HE ONLY HAVE HAD A BAD CAUSE OF KENNEL COUGH.

P.S. I HAVE BEEN READING THIS SITE NOW FOR 5 DAYS AND HAVE ENJOYED READING THE FUNNY STORIES AND THE EDUCATIONAL POST FROM GERMAN VANEGAS AND CRYING TO THE LOSSES.

[Nancy Estes]

Did the vet tell you what he based his diagnosis on? What symptoms did your dog have other than lethargy? Discharge from nose or eyes, coughing, neurological problems, trembling, seizures? Distemper is a truly horrible viral disease usually accompanied by secondary bacterial infections. In my opinion, having seen dogs with it and having had a puppy die of it (from a pet shop), it's much worse than Parvo. As far as I know, there are no definitive tests for it. Diagnosis is usually made from the symptoms presented.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net

thxs for the reply. He had green snot coming out of his nose, he sneezed alot, and had a fever of 103 (taken by the vet). Now however he does not have anything coming out of his nose and has sneezed maybe twice in the last 48 hours. He has been very active and his nose feels normal and he has been eating his kibbles (2cups once in the morning and 2cups at night).

[donna]

as a veterinarian i am very offended by your jerk comment. it is the owner's responsibility (i.e. YOU)to go out and find a responsible, reputable vet for their pet. you can't judge all vets based on your local one (jerk as you call him/her). if you continue to have this attitude about the people caring for your dog, it is only your dog that will suffer in the long run. good luck and i hope you change your attitude and find a better vet if necessary.

[Cosmo]

I don't think *jerk* was meant as an indictment of the entire veterinary profession. There are certainly outstanding veterinarians and ones that could be called jerks, just as there are in any profession or walk of life. And a person with a desperately sick dog is certainly liable to make remarks in haste, just as most of the rest of us would be. I don't think you should take this remark personally in this case.

Cosmo

Thank You Cosmo, and you were correct when saying I made that remark in haste. Donna, I was so upset with this vet, basically told me not to try to help this dog, but to trade our new pet in for a better model. I did not feel he had the dog's best interest in mind, but only my pocketbook. I did however take him to a vet that was recommended to me by the fund, and she was wonderful and gave us hope for him. As of today which from the time we got him is 7 days, he is a happy and almost (we hope) healthy dog. I am sorry if I offended you is was not my intention to offend anyone and I apologise. However, for my questions, "has anyone known a dog to recover from distemper in a week"?

[Nancy Estes]

I haven't but that by no means it hasn't happened. But since there's no test for distemper it is possible that he had something else with similar symptoms. (My understanding is that the only thing close to a definitive diagnosis of distemper is made on necropsy; i.e., the dog has to be dead http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/frown.gif ). At any rate, hopefully this is not what he had and if by chance it was, he's made a complete recovery!

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net

Today I went to petsmart and the HART foundation was there, I spoke with a man there and he said that the fund where I got Danny doesn't do a complete vet check on the dogs.(they neutered Danny when he was sick, I found out) He got a dog from there after the CA. 1994 earthquake and he got a sick dog also.However he was able to have surgery on his pet and he had a complete recovery..
Nancy, thank you again for your reply I hope your right and he didn't have distemper. Danny is going back for his check up on Tuesday, I'll let you know what she (the Vet) tell us. Cross your fingers for us.


[Note: This message has been edited by ~cosmo]

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!the vet said that he probally did not have distemper(yeah) but maybe a bad case of Kennel cough or a Virul infection. Called a trainer today to talk about Danny starting school now that we know he is not contagious.

The posts that i have been reading on this site have been very helpful. I now know what we are up against (big baby with a hard head) I will keep on reading. Thanks to everyone for being there for my family and Danny. Write with you all soon. (I still have alot of questions)

[Nancy Estes]

Great news! I didn't think it was distemper but didn't want to say so outright for fear of being accused of practicing veterinary medicine (1) without a license; (2) at long distance... From the dogs I've seen with distemper, it just didn't sound like it to me. He's a twice-lucky boy! Not to have distemper and to be so well cared for http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net