25/01/2019
KENNEL MUSING 2: The Young pup's nightmare 2
It was Ifeanyi's persistence that made his father put a call through to the Vet.
The veterinary doctor promptly arrived. He did a thorough physical examination of Brandy.
He began to take history, that is, ask my master questions concerning the sick pup. History included:
-- Lively Brandy all of a sudden became dull
-- He stopped eating.
-- He started vomiting often and on.
-- He looked too weak
-- Then last night, he poohed very smelly, chocolate-coloured diarrhoea.
-- He was only vaccinated twice with DHLPP vaccine (or something that looked like it) by a boy who sells dogs. Actually, he charged less. No one is sure how the vaccine was preserved.
The Vet nodded all while and took notes. He made certain physical observations: temperature, heart beat rate, pulse rate, breathing,mucous membranes etc.
Brandy was weak, diarrhoeic (with haemorrhagia) etc.
The doctor made a tentative diagnosis: Canine Parvoviral enteritis (popularly called "Parvo")
Differentials include: helminthosis, colitis etc
But, because of classical clinical signs noted above, the emergency of the condition and the non-availability of Commercial ELISA and PCR machines, he began to treat Brandy for Parvoviral enteritis.
First, electrolytes have to be balanced. Secondary bacterial infections forestalled. Fluids and metabolic abnormalities must be restored.
The environment must be thoroughly disinfected.
It was too late for Brandy. After two days of treatment, he died.
I was depressed. I sat on my Wicket basket bed and gave a long drawn-out bark.
The boy, Ifeanyi, was inconsolable.
The vet later gave my master some nuggets about canine Parvoviral enteritis to avoid future happenings:
1. It's common in young, unvaccinated or poorly vaccinated dogs, from 4 weeks to 7 months of age.
2. Highly contagious to other dogs, though not known to affect man.
3. Infectious parvoviruses can persist for up to 5 months in an environment even after a dog may have recovered or died. This means that an unvaccinated puppy may become infected when introduced in an environment where a sick dog had been 5 months after the disease.
4. Vaccination failure is one of the biggest enablers of the disease in the tropics. How well was the vaccine preserved? Did the doctor store it in ice packs or under strict cold chain? Was it a quack that administered it? Remember, vaccination is a program. It's usually given to puppies at 6th, 8th and 12th week.
And never haphazardly.
Pay a good vet to administer them. Keep records.
Also remember, maternal "parvo" antibody can be passed from the dam (breast-feeding bitch) to the pups after the pups had taken colostrum (first milk from the mother). This is in the case of a well-vaccinated dam. This is good because it confers immunity against "parvo" on the recipient puppies.
If you're not sure of the vaccination status of your bitch, vaccinate her again at least 1 month before her heat period. This is why certain people vaccinate their bi***es every 6 months.
5. Use of dilute bleach solutions or accelerated hydrogen peroxide solutions to clean surfaces in the environment helps out.
6. Utilize a vet. Stop assuming you know how to treat.
Hmmmm. I nodded. I looked at my master. He looked crest-fallen.
Brandy's death touched everyone.
Bye, youn'un!
