pet health

United States
April 19, 2008 12:04am CST
please help my 5 month old mastiff puppy has parvo, and do not have money to hospitalize him. i just had enough for meds and fluid under the skin, but he still won't eat. i have a hard time giving the meds because he keeps vomiting. i don't know how long he can hold on. any suggestions?
1 response
• United States
19 Apr 08
I am so sorry to hear about your puppy. I hope I can offer some help. I have been working as a licensed veterinary technician for the past 4 years since graduating from college. We treat a fair number of Parvo cases each year. Most of them have survived when they were caught soon after the vomiting and diarrhea started. Parvo is a very serious virus that has a very high mortality rate in young, UNVACCINATED puppies. The best care he could receive would be hospitalized in a veterinary clinic on intravenous fluids, antibiotic and antiemetics (stops vomiting)meds. Since cost is an issue subquetanious fluids under the skin are a MUST!!! Also, since Parvo basically attacks the lining of the intestings and kills the cells off. It is important that you should not try to force him to eat anything for the first 72 hours. Its not gonna kill him not to eat. Actually its better for him to have an empty belly so it has time to heal. The fluids you are giving him will keep him hydrated which is a must!! Did your veterinarian give you any antibiotics that you can give by injection under the skin??? Or are they just pills? The pill or liquid form of antibiotics are not of much help at all because he is most likely just gonna throw them back up before they even have a chance to work. You should have an injection that you can give to control his vomiting. Also clean EVERYTHING he has come in contact with BLEACH. Usually 3 to 4 Tablespoons of bleach to a 2 gallon scrub bucket is sufficent. Soak his food dishes, toys and wipe everything off, including your floors, his bedding, anything. Bleach will kill the parvo virus and decrease the amount of virus in your environment.