redshoe
I've gotta have more cowbell!
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2007
- Messages
- 756
Hey all,
Remember the new pup that we brought home about 3 weeks ago, that I was so happy about?
He's been diagnosed with distemper. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's about the most devastating illness a dog can get. It's closely related to the measles virus, but its effects on a dog are similar to polio.
He's been having tremors and facial tics since the evening of the 22nd, and has had several seizures since then (six of them in a 24-hour period preceding Christmas Eve morning). As of yesterday, the tremors had begun affecting his limbs also. He's a tough little guy, though, and has been doing amazingly well. His appetite is normal, and he's eaten every meal we put before him (he was ravenously hungry this morning), and drinks water at least twice a day, just like normal. He still follows us from room to room and wags his tail for us, even though it's obvious that he's exhausted because the tremors and tics make it hard for him to get any sleep. He has no discharge from his eyes and very little from his nose - very unusual in a dog with distemper. All of this is possibly because he's older with a more developed immune system than the usual age for getting distemper, and also could be because he was vaccinated when we got him during the incubation phase of the virus, which may have helped blunt it some.
He has around a 50/50 chance of making it through this. Maybe slightly better than that because of the above factors. We're fighting it with everything possible, which is why I haven't been on much in the last several days. Distemper has no cure, but he's getting antibiotics to ward off secondary infections, as well as a round of tamiflu. If we can get him through the weekend, then we know that he's probably going to make it. However, he will most likely have lasting neurological issues...epilepsy, continued tremors, impaired motor skills, possibly brain damage, an increased risk of encephalitis (swelling of the brain) when he gets older, or any combination of the above. We're prepared for this, and willing to do whatever is necessary to give him the best possible quality of life that he can have. One of the vets we took him to is even looking into the possibility of using anti-tremor drugs designed for humans to help with any eventual long-term issues he might have with that should he pull through. Of course, we also understand that there may come a point where we have to make some hard choices.
Tomorrow and Friday, I'll be working from home in order to keep an eye on him. Other Half has been with him most of today. Even though he's only been with us 3 weeks, he's been an established and loved part of our family from the first second we brought him home, and we'll be devastated if we lose him to this. He is a fantastic, wonderful dog who deserves to live long, happy and well cared for with a family who loves him, and we want so much to give him that.
Those of you who have dogs and cats, please, PLEASE review their immunization records and make sure your pets have all of their vaccinations up to date. And give your furry ones an extra hug tonight. I can't begin to tell you what a nightmare it is to see our new baby go through this, knowing that if whomever had had him before (and we can tell someone did) had just been responsible enough and cared enough about him to give him his vaccinations on schedule, or even at all, he wouldn't be fighting for his life right now. Distemper and many other illnesses are so terrible, and so easily avoided. I wouldn't wish this on any other pet or family, ever.
Please keep Rhett in your thoughts and prayers. We would really appreciate it.
Remember the new pup that we brought home about 3 weeks ago, that I was so happy about?
He's been diagnosed with distemper. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's about the most devastating illness a dog can get. It's closely related to the measles virus, but its effects on a dog are similar to polio.
He's been having tremors and facial tics since the evening of the 22nd, and has had several seizures since then (six of them in a 24-hour period preceding Christmas Eve morning). As of yesterday, the tremors had begun affecting his limbs also. He's a tough little guy, though, and has been doing amazingly well. His appetite is normal, and he's eaten every meal we put before him (he was ravenously hungry this morning), and drinks water at least twice a day, just like normal. He still follows us from room to room and wags his tail for us, even though it's obvious that he's exhausted because the tremors and tics make it hard for him to get any sleep. He has no discharge from his eyes and very little from his nose - very unusual in a dog with distemper. All of this is possibly because he's older with a more developed immune system than the usual age for getting distemper, and also could be because he was vaccinated when we got him during the incubation phase of the virus, which may have helped blunt it some.
He has around a 50/50 chance of making it through this. Maybe slightly better than that because of the above factors. We're fighting it with everything possible, which is why I haven't been on much in the last several days. Distemper has no cure, but he's getting antibiotics to ward off secondary infections, as well as a round of tamiflu. If we can get him through the weekend, then we know that he's probably going to make it. However, he will most likely have lasting neurological issues...epilepsy, continued tremors, impaired motor skills, possibly brain damage, an increased risk of encephalitis (swelling of the brain) when he gets older, or any combination of the above. We're prepared for this, and willing to do whatever is necessary to give him the best possible quality of life that he can have. One of the vets we took him to is even looking into the possibility of using anti-tremor drugs designed for humans to help with any eventual long-term issues he might have with that should he pull through. Of course, we also understand that there may come a point where we have to make some hard choices.
Tomorrow and Friday, I'll be working from home in order to keep an eye on him. Other Half has been with him most of today. Even though he's only been with us 3 weeks, he's been an established and loved part of our family from the first second we brought him home, and we'll be devastated if we lose him to this. He is a fantastic, wonderful dog who deserves to live long, happy and well cared for with a family who loves him, and we want so much to give him that.
Those of you who have dogs and cats, please, PLEASE review their immunization records and make sure your pets have all of their vaccinations up to date. And give your furry ones an extra hug tonight. I can't begin to tell you what a nightmare it is to see our new baby go through this, knowing that if whomever had had him before (and we can tell someone did) had just been responsible enough and cared enough about him to give him his vaccinations on schedule, or even at all, he wouldn't be fighting for his life right now. Distemper and many other illnesses are so terrible, and so easily avoided. I wouldn't wish this on any other pet or family, ever.
Please keep Rhett in your thoughts and prayers. We would really appreciate it.
. GL with making it through this event.
red while i am extremly superstitous and believe in spirits and afterlife i believe that the cookie message was to tell you how much you and your family are loved. you opened your heart and home and shared a housefull of love for a poor sick dog. what you have given out, you will get back tenfold. my heart goes out to you and i also sit in amazement at the love your house has (some people would have given up long ago) i am sorry for your heartbreak and i hope you and yours will heal soon. 
