09/29/2024
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PARVO ALERT
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THIS LITTLE GIRL ALMOST DIED LAST NIGHT IN ST. IGNATIUS.
Much of the work we do is behind the scenes on the streets of our communities, and we don't even have time to relate all of the stories. In this case, we want to take the opportunity to share a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT for the benefit of our Reservation.
The only reason this puppy survived is because we had left some parvo treatment materials at the location in the past, knowing it was a high-risk spot. The puppy's owner did the right thing: they contacted us right away for help. And we spent half of the night on the phone giving specific instructions on how to administer emergency care including subcutaneous fluids.
We didn't know whether we would wake up to news that she had passed, as the last update after midnight was that she was unable to lift her head, and her eyes were rolling back.
Well, the little one made it through the night, and we delivered additional urgent medication this morning.
PREVENTABLE TRAGEDIES
This puppy found itself at the wrong place at the wrong time because either people do not have the information they need, or they don't take warnings seriously. Puppies younger than 10-weeks should NOT ever be allowed to wander outside in areas with known prior parvo history. These places include most of St. Ignatius (especially in the area near the Mission), Charlo, Pablo, and Dixon.
Here are some tips on keeping our communities protected from the trauma of parvo:
1. SPAY!!!!!!
2. PUPPIES MUST BE GIVEN THEIR FIRST DOSE OF DAPP NO LATER THAN 6 WEEKS
3. IN HOMES OR LANDSITES WITH KNOWN PARVO HISTORY, PUPPIES SHOULD BE VACCINATED EVERY 2 WEEKS STARTING AT 4 WEEKS OF AGE. Even this is no guarantee they will not get sick.
4. In the communities mentioned above, puppies should NOT be allowed to wander outside until at least 10 weeks of age.
5. DAPP vaccines are immediately deactivated by maternal antibodies, so if your puppy still has antibodies from mom, the vaccine DOES NOT WORK. Thus, early vaccination is a precaution and may or may not work, but it also poses no risk to the puppy's health. If the DAPP vaccine works, it is 100% effective (once 3-5 days have passed and it is active), and it will NOT wane with time. It will confer that protection for years, so NO BOOST is needed.
6. Most puppies lose antibodies around 6 weeks of age, which is why vaccinating generally starts at that time. Unfortunately, for the general public, there is no way to know whether antibodies are still present in the system, so there is no guarantee that the vaccine has worked until 5 months of age, which is the latest that antibodies have ever been detected.
7. THERE IS NO WAY to eliminate parvo from the outside environment once it is contaminated, and the parvo can persist there for several years (as long as 9!).
8. Clean, hard surfaces like linoleum, sealed concrete, plastic, etc. can be effectively sanitized with a 1:10 bleach/water solution if thoroughly drenched and left to dry.
9. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE MORE PUPPIES AND HAND THEM AROUND in our Reservation communities!!! What you are doing is spreading trauma by creating vectors for Parvo to affect families.
10. Dogs that are at least 5 months old, healthy, and successfully vaccinated with a DAPP shot that is administered no earlier than 20 weeks of age are essentially at ZERO risk from parvo. They are immune and will continue to be immune for years.
11. Treatment for parvo can be VERY effective and not very expensive if done EARLY, AGGRESSIVELY, AND ADMINISTERED AT HOME. The survival rate for puppies can be well above 90% if the treatment is immediate and symptoms are caught right away! With every passing hour of delay, the chances of survival drop rapidly. If you wait until severe symptoms are presenting (bloody diarrhea, vomiting, severe lethargy and total loss of appetite), the chances of survival can be as low as 10%.
12. The first symptom of parvo is most often marked drop in appetite and energy. If your puppy is listless and stops eating, and you live on the Reservation, you are very likely dealing with parvo! Seek help immediately. DO NOT DELAY. Our number is 406-207-9338.
13. NO, you do not need to rush your puppy to an emergency vet in Missoula. No, fancy and very expensive modern treatments are not necessary to save your puppy. In fact, unless you can afford a bill well in excess of $1,000, find a different solution. Most of our community members cannot afford in-house emergency treatment for parvo, and most vets will refuse to send effective treatment home with you (injections and fluids) without first doing expensive assessment and initial treatment at the clinic.
14. WHAT YOU NEED TO ADMINISTER TREATMENT: Cerenia injection (for vomitting), Endosorb (for diarrhea), antibiotic injection (to fight systemic infection), and fluids (a bag with a line and proper gauge needles).
15. Puppies that have survived parvo are considered immune to reinfection from parvo BUT, they are not immune from distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus, which are also covered by the DAPP vaccine.
16. Parvo is the #1 killer of puppies in our communities. It is ubiquitous, and extreme care should be taken to prevent infection, not only for your own wellbeing, but most importantly for the wellbeing of all those pet owners, children, elders, families, and neighbors around you. Dealing with parvo is very traumatic. Please take care of each other and your community by being responsible.
