Parvo

RE: Parvo

grumpyoldman — Mon, 02 May 2016 07:44:56 GMT

watching the k+ helps as does the virbagen omega . the critical thing for me is the intercurrent infection/problems with guardia/camplobacter that dramatically increase the enterocyte turnover just at the point of weaning/sale ,lots of stress etc. We have regularly ended up euthanising whole litters , Its always scabby people wanting to make a quick buck , Dougue de Bordeaux , Rottweilers , Mastiffs , always seem to be involved. Environmental hygiene and quarantine are huge problems with these people, I remember seeing one guy at the surgery covered in diahorrea, leave his puppy for euthanasia then just amble around the pub next door for tea. We still see " spikes" of infection in streets and roads.

RE: Parvo

Tony Knapp — Mon, 02 May 2016 07:24:56 GMT

We've been pretty good with our survival rates, I'd say were at 90% if not higher in those we treat, however cost is the big limiting factor, it's an upfront $2000 deposit because we've been left with abandoned puppies and bills too many times, so the euthanasia rate without treatment is also sadly high.

On the medicine side we use glucose and K+ spiked fluids, daily electrolytes and PCV monitoring, twice daily glucometer, methone, gastroportectants, broad AB (IV until able to eat) and in particularly bad cases ET tubes both for nutrition and removing the masses of excess gastric secretions you get. We have also used the hyperimmune plasma a couple of times which does seem to work pretty well.

One other note though, I have noticed if we get a litter in where the first 1 or 2 puppies die very quickly the prognosis for the others is usually worse, I don't know if this is due to the puppies genetics (black and tan anyone?) or the virulence of the particular virus they were exposed to.

RE: Parvo

Braden Collins — Mon, 02 May 2016 01:06:24 GMT

Gluco monitoring is something we probably don't do enough, but that's largely because the animals are in isolation so it's not a quick job. We will often use glucose saline fluids maybe every second or third bag the dog gets. We also add 10mmol potassium to every bag.

RE: Parvo

cathal rafferty — Mon, 02 May 2016 00:33:45 GMT

Thanks for the replies everyone. The interferon idea is something i haven't tried.

What kind of protocol do you use for this?

Rob as regards enteral nutrition, do you mean a naso-gastric tube, if so what are you giving through it?

is anybody monitoring blood glucose regularly? I've had a few recently that developed hygoglycaemic seizures before death.

RE: Parvo

Braden Collins — Sun, 01 May 2016 23:45:55 GMT

We treat a lot here. We euthanase most as owners generally can't afford proper treatment. Our treatment consists of crystaliods at 3x maintenance, plasma, abs, metoclopramide cri, methadone, gastroprotectants. We have nearly 100% survival rate with this treatment but it is expensive.

Most parvo cases come from those who can't afford to vaccinate, so most can't afford adequate treatment. We also find parvo cases have a high risk of turning into bad debts so insist on a large deposit ($800) before we admit the dog.

RE: Parvo

Martin Atkinson — Sun, 01 May 2016 21:39:03 GMT

Yes. Virbagen omega works well. It's bloody expensive but it works within 3 days and is thus probably cheaper than a week of hospitalisation on fluids and a lot less hassle.

RE: Parvo

Utlendigur — Sun, 01 May 2016 20:30:48 GMT

Can you still get voluven? - I thought it had been discontinued

Does anyone use Virbagen Omega? I remember hearing at one point that RSPCA/PDSA clinics used it because it reduced the duration of treatment, although I'm not sure it reduced mortality.

RE: Parvo

Rob Loxley — Sun, 01 May 2016 19:56:35 GMT

[quote user="cathal rafferty"]any tips for increasing survival?[/quote]

My experience is the reason they get parvo is the owners scrimped on getting them, or the dam, vaccinated, and therefore necessary treatment to try and get them through is cost-prohibitive for these owners.

More helpfully in response to your question maybe, early enteral nutrition can really help these guys

RE: Parvo

Elivet — Sun, 01 May 2016 19:24:05 GMT

Hi Cathal, I am doing much worse and would also like to know what else one can do in addition to what you have listed. I have lost quite a few 'Gumtree/puppy farm' puppies in the recent past. Patient would be hospitalised in the morning, put on IVFT as tests are run, parvo confirmed, client informed, estimates and prognosis given and, invariably, it ends up being a PTS at the end of the day.