posted 12-15-2003 12:31 PM         

We took two puppies in to the vet the other day, Sammy and Cody. They had been separate from each other almost completely. Sammy was going in for a parvo test because we suspect it, Cody because he wasn't eating (turned out to be a mysteriously irritated tongue), and the vet tech took Sammy's temp first then before we could stop him/realize what he was doing, he wiped the thermometer and took the Cody's temperature.

Turns out this is common practice to use alchohol to wipe the thermometers, UNLESS, someone is alert enough to suspect parvo, then they bleach and clean them.

alcohol doesn't kill parvo, or at what time duration can it kill?

Sammy was fine at the breeder, breeder's pups are fine, dog contracted symptoms 8 days after seeing vet for his initial health exam after leaving the breeder.

I'm praying Cody doesn't get parvo, as Sammy has already passed. I'm starting to wonder if vets are spreading parvo unintentionally????!!!!

posted 12-18-2003 02:33 PM         

thermometers are 'supposed' to sit in alcohol for twenty minutes between use, but i don't see them labeled with timers, and people come in and out of the rooms all day, is there time to wait twenty minutes?

my thing is that dogs can have it and not show symptoms, or a dog can come in because it is sleeping a lot, or having diarreah, or it could test negative because it is not sheddding the disease yet in its feces, how many dogs out there have diarreah and go to their vet for it?

and are given albon or flagyl...

and sent home to be fine

and maybe they have parvo and get over it and never show major symptoms, or maybe they get it later and its too late for anyone who came in contact with the dog

all dogs should be treated as if they are carriers to be safe, everything should be sanitized thoroughly

thermo covers are the answer as far as i can see, until then insist on own thermometer or sanitization

dogs walk on the vet floor all the time
dogs stand on the scale with who knows what on their feet
dogs lick their feet
my vet's techs have wanted me to put 9 wk puppies on the waiting room scale (filthy sometimes IMO with all the dogs that have been on it ) and I have to refuse

thing is, it takes a lot of work to be on top of things and vet offices i think can be sloppy because they're made up of tired human beings in a hrry to get it all done in one day

my vet doesn't use disposable plastic covers on the thermometers due to cost or because they get lost in dogs' butts depending on who you talk to there

apparently there are paper disposable ones for humans, wonder if they work in dogs

anyway, if parvo spreads, if it is out there, how are dogs catching it??

walking down the sidewalk?
licking their feet?
or after a visit to their vet?

some dogs are poop eaters but not all of them...

sammy wasn't a poop eater.

cody so far is ok fingers crossed 7 days have passed

wouldn't it be tragic if vets were the main spreaders??????

posted 12-19-2003 12:23 AM         

http://www.lbah.com/Canine/Parvo.html#intro

And remember, this is a virus, much like the flu virus. This means that anything coming in contact with the virus has the potential to be a carrier - like the sidewalk, the yard, the park and yeah the vet's office on occasion. The puppy doesn't have to eat poop to get the virus, just like we don't have to eat someone's snot to get the flu. Someone with the flu sneezes on their hand then hands you some papers at the office. You touch the papers then your coffee cup and bam... flu. Dog with parvo poops in the park. 2 weeks later you take your puppy there before he get's his shots and he walks over the spot. Later that night he chews on his toe nails and bam... parvo. Unfortunately parvo kills the puppies often where as we are more resilient to the flu.

However, and this is a big however...don't let this make you paranoid. I would strongly caution people against becoming alarmist about this. Be concerned, be careful and most importantly, be informed. The rest you have to just leave up to your higher power. We only have control over certain things. If you've done all the right things...well, sometimes bad things happen to good people and puppies. =/

Hope this helps answer some of your questions. I do pray for the health of your puppy.

[This message has been edited by Rosie's Mom (edited 12-19-2003).]

posted 12-19-2003 05:41 AM         

Puppies can get it from un sanitized kennels, floors, clothes, unvaccinated and vaccinated dogs, and as you stated, unsterilized equipment.

Bleach will usually kill it the best, though I've heard amonia and ethonol alcohol over 8% will kill it also.

So sorry to hear about your puppy sammy dieing.
Kind of feel a kin ship here somehow,

All my puppies had vaccinations and the last puppy actually had two in my care, and she ended up contracting parvo. She's fine now, thank goodness! But a big problem at the moment with her owner.

posted 12-19-2003 04:24 PM         

how did you treat your parvo puppy??? self or vet with IV??