Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now.

• 06-20-2008 10:45 PM

  BCMixs Joined on 01-10-2008 Virginia Posts 1,189 Points 25

  Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact  Well, this bothers me, maybe it's because of where the show is coming from, South Africa.  I'm sitting here watching Animal Cops South Africa and they seized some pups that turned out to have Parvo.  The narrator says "Even if the pups survive the deadly disease, they are likely to be sickly their entire lives, so the decision is made to humanely euthanize them."  WTF????  I have a parvo pup lying at my feet and he's healthy as a horse!  Granted, he's had stomach issues and I have heard that from several owners of parvo survivors, but once we sorted out what he's sensitive to, he's been fine and I can't definitely point to parvo as the reason for his tummy troubles.  I guess it just bothers me that someone might hear that and decide to euthanize their pup if it comes down with it or worse, not want to adopt a pup who has survived it because of fears that it would be sickly it's entire life. Has anyone else heard this?  "I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl" Penny Ward Moser Save a life, make a shelter pet part of your family.

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• 06-20-2008 10:47 PM

  In reply to BCMixs

  kle1986 Joined on 10-22-2007 KY Posts 1,440 Points 735	Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact I was just watching that. I had to change the channel. I kept talking to myself. More like asking myself questions. Like WHY didnt they take that starving momma dog?!!  Kimberly
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• 06-24-2008 3:19 PM

  In reply to BCMixs

  samshine Joined on 09-10-2007 Denver, CO, USA Posts 381 Points 0

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact I don't think that's true. I've heard other questionable things on Animal Cops, I think they say things to justify what is happening. They were probably euthanizing the puppies because there was nobody willing or financially able to treat them, or there would be no homes for them if  they were saved. But saying they would never be healthy makes it sound like it was all for the best. Everything all nice-nice for the TV viewing public.

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• 07-06-2008 2:52 PM

  In reply to samshine

  Workingdoglover Joined on 05-22-2007 Posts 353 Points 0

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact samshine: I don't think that's true. I've heard other questionable things on Animal Cops, I think they say things to justify what is happening. They were probably euthanizing the puppies because there was nobody willing or financially able to treat them, or there would be no homes for them if  they were saved. But saying they would never be healthy makes it sound like it was all for the best. Everything all nice-nice for the TV viewing public. I must agree...  Some of them really just don't know what they're talking about or are just saying things to make the public feel better (which, I though, was kind of contradictory to the whole point of the show...).   And I have a parvo dog as well and he has absolutely no problems.  Perfectly healthy, always ready to go.  No one would ever say he was anything close to being sickly.  Granted, some of them may have more sensitive stomachs that other dogs (but then again, who knows if they would've had the sensitive stomach anyway, without having parvo?), but they certainly aren't sickly for the rest of their lives.  If that was the case I doubt so many people would pay so much money to treat parvo dogs if they weren't going to have a good life anyway.

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• 07-06-2008 4:15 PM

  In reply to Workingdoglover

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,575 Points 75

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact It would be ridiculous to keep parvo puppies in a shelter environment. Even IF they survived,   parvo  is SOOOOOOOOO contagious....     Emma is a parvo survivor, and has some big belly issues. I don't know how related any of her stuff is. I do understand euthanising parvo puppies, especially when there are so many healthy puppies to find homes for, but why give stupid reasons?  Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 07-06-2008 4:20 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  Workingdoglover Joined on 05-22-2007 Posts 353 Points 0

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact jennie_c_d: It would be ridiculous to keep parvo puppies in a shelter environment. Even IF they survived,   parvo  is SOOOOOOOOO contagious....   Emma is a parvo survivor, and has some big belly issues. I don't know how related any of her stuff is. I do understand euthanising parvo puppies, especially when there are so many healthy puppies to find homes for, but why give stupid reasons?  Oh yeah, I definitely agree with you.  It's just too expensive and difficult for a shelter to do and no matter how careful you are, there's always the chance that you could spread it to all the other dogs in the shelter.  But, like you said, there's no need to try to give some stupid reason for it.  Just tell people the truth.  Maybe it will make them think about things a little more.

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• 07-06-2008 7:08 PM

  In reply to Workingdoglover

  BCMixs Joined on 01-10-2008 Virginia Posts 1,189 Points 25

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact  Geez, I'm really glad Woobie's shelter didn't have this attitude!    They treat the parvo pups and separate them from the population.  I don't think they go to heroic measures like ICU (not sure about IV fluids, possibly) but they do give supportive care and at least try to give them a chance.  Parvo isn't an automatic death sentence.  If it was, I wouldn't have Woobie. "I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl" Penny Ward Moser Save a life, make a shelter pet part of your family.

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• 07-06-2008 8:30 PM

  In reply to BCMixs

  Workingdoglover Joined on 05-22-2007 Posts 353 Points 0

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact BCMixs:  Geez, I'm really glad Woobie's shelter didn't have this attitude!    They treat the parvo pups and separate them from the population.  I don't think they go to heroic measures like ICU (not sure about IV fluids, possibly) but they do give supportive care and at least try to give them a chance.  Parvo isn't an automatic death sentence.  If it was, I wouldn't have Woobie. Honestly, I really think it depends on the kind of setup the shelter has and the funding.  I know that our shelter couldn't possibly care for parvo puppies.  There's just no way.  For one thing they definitely don't have the funding to give supportive care (they're doing good just feeding the dogs that are well!).  Another thing is the space.  They really don't have an isolation area.  They do sort of, but it isn't at all what would be ideal for dogs with parvo.  It's just so hard to keep from spreading it anyway, and so many of these dogs haven't had vaccinations that it's just too much of a risk.  My dog came from this shelter and started showing signs of parvo two days after I adopted him.  I'm really glad I got him when I did, because they would've euthanized him as soon as he tested positive for parvo.  It's just what they have to do because of their situation.  Now I'm sure that there are some well-funded, nicely laid out shelters that could care for parvo dogs and it not be a big deal, but it seems that they are few and far between.

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• 07-06-2008 9:33 PM

  In reply to Workingdoglover

  BCMixs Joined on 01-10-2008 Virginia Posts 1,189 Points 25

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact  Oh I agree.  The shelter in my county is god awful and practically a death sentence.  My kitty Milo was pretty sick when I got him from there, it's adopter beware and 3 days to get health checked or bring them back.  Even though it's closer to where I live, I just couldn't volunteer there, the body count is just too high.  Woobie's shelter has really come a long way and do a very good job caring for animals with health issues when they are able.  Their parvo protection measures for the pups are pretty darned good too.  No cuddling on the puppies even for the volunteers, they want them handled minimally to reduce the risk of exposure and the puppy room is absolutely spotless at all times.  Even a whisper of a loose stool and they're outta there and tested immediately.  "I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl" Penny Ward Moser Save a life, make a shelter pet part of your family.

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• 07-06-2008 10:14 PM

  In reply to BCMixs

  Workingdoglover Joined on 05-22-2007 Posts 353 Points 0

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact Yeah...our poor shelter doesn't even HAVE a puppy room...  They're all kept together in a long corridor of runs.  :(  Not exactly the greatest environment.  They did get a huge donation that made them able to start building a new shelter, though.  They've been saving forever and they finally got enough donations to make a decent building, not like the one they have now.  I swear it's going to fall apart any day now.  Their chainlink outside runs are literally rusting away.  They're really doing the best they can though, and I'm totally stoked that they can build a new shelter.  I volunteer there, and it really gets to me sometimes because of the number of dogs (and cats) that have to be put down every week.  Perfectly healthy dogs are euthanized just because they need the room.  It's really horrible, but I know that the dogs appreciate any socialization and playtime they can get.  And because I'm training a few of them, they're more likely to get adopted!  I feel like I'm at least doing a little bit to help out, even though I can't afford to give a monetary donation.

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• 07-06-2008 10:16 PM

  In reply to BCMixs

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,575 Points 75

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact  The shelter Emma was in KEPT TAKING DOGS when they knew there was parvo in their kennel. They were adopting out dogs with parvo. I know, for a fact, that at least one puppy from her litter died soon after it was adopted. Broke his new dad's heart.   It's a terrible shelter, and I hate it. They've been through... like 6 directors since I got her, and I don't see it getting any better.  I can hardly walk in for the cat smell. The county shelter is MUCH cleaner.  Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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• 07-06-2008 10:43 PM

  In reply to Workingdoglover

  BCMixs Joined on 01-10-2008 Virginia Posts 1,189 Points 25

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact That's wonderful!  I don't think people realize how much help even government run shelters need, their budgets are so paltry yet the public expectations for what they *should* be providing is pretty high.  I can't imagine poor pups in with the adults, the stress on the adults is so tough as it is!  I can only take the noise in there in small doses, it amazes me these dogs don't go shelter crazy faster and that they retain their good natures in those conditions.    "I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl" Penny Ward Moser Save a life, make a shelter pet part of your family.

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• 07-06-2008 11:05 PM

  In reply to BCMixs

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,575 Points 75

  Re: Parvo puppies always sickly???? Heard this on Animal Planet just now. Reply Contact  Seriously.... it's terrible, for them. I volunteer for the cleaner, well run county facility. They have a very, very small number of volunteers. People are put off by them, because they are a kill shelter. The other local shelter is a no kill, but.... they have terrible policies, and for as many volunteers as they have... OMG. I guess they're just over run.   Anyhow, the county shelter euthanises anything that LOOKS like parvo. I don't have a problem with that, at all. They have to euthanise healthy animals for space. No reason to keep around sickly animals. It's a wonderful, caring group of people, but they've gotta do what they've gotta do. Better to lose one to something possibly curable than lose a whole kennel of dogs, and spread parvo around the community. *still bitter about Emma being so sick as a tiny baby puppy* Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

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