Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

David Mills — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 23:41:24 GMT

Yes I agree.

We don’t know what Parvo dogs ultimately die from. If it’s translocation then there’s not much you can do anyway. If you can prevent the gi tract becoming porous and shedding itself then that has to be a good thing. My thinking is that if the virus has already got to the bone marrow then they’re probably done anyway.

I’m not convinced it’s sepsis or whatever it’s called these days that kills these dogs. I think it’s a global inflammatory response sirs etc.

also giving dex at anti inflammatory doses is unlikely to cause harm in any way. It also has anti emetic, appetite stimulant effects too.

We also use paracetamol in these dogs iv very effective anti pyretic.

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

Richard Carter — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 21:58:06 GMT

Deaths from actual virus activity is not as high as deaths from the complications of the pathology- dehydration, shock and circulation failure, organ toxicity from breakdown products, inflammation and DIC.

I suppose the decision has to be made if the infectious organism is causing more or less damage than the immune response to the whole physiology on whether to use cortisone or not. We quite happily reduce a fever to preserve function by cooling and in doing so, reducing the effective immune response and as we saw with covid, the deaths were from ARDs and collapse of lung function due to reactive inflammation not actual cell death from virus replication.

The other reason to reach for the cortisone is that severe haemorrhagic gastroenteritis is also a common presenting sign of acute anaphylaxis so while you are waiting for some results, you might have sorted the problem

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

David Mills — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 19:57:20 GMT

We’ve seen a large amount of Parvo in London this last 6 months even in adult dogs and have had higher than usual success with aggressive treatment (5M MCP/KCl/glucose) fluids, maropitant, buscopan, dexamethasone and amox.

I’d estimate we have about a 80% survival rate overall with this protocol with some skew with older dogs having more chance of survival. But it is higher than previous cases we’ve had. If I get chance I intend to write them up as an abstract.

The inclusion of dex is potentially controversial with potential low WBCs but Parvo also causes massive inflammation and as we have seen with covid steroids and viral infections can be good bedfellows.

There was some talk of antivirals such as tamiflu being used a few years ago I think at Battersea but not sure if it came to anything.

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

Bob Russell — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 11:10:04 GMT

More important than brand/batch, at what age did the puppy receive the vaccines?

I have felt uncomfortable with a ten week finish for a very long time and don't recommend it. Puppies need to be isolated for a bit longer but I have never (touch wood!) had one godown with parvo.

Best of luck with the puppy but I would be looking at the why's at the same time!

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

Andrew Mellor — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 10:22:21 GMT

Thanks for that, mixture of vaccines , and those on same had different batches

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

Richard Carter — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 09:35:58 GMT

Many years ago on this forum I described a vet I did work experience who had helped set up the vaccine production factory at onderstepoort who would use his Labradors as plasma donors, parvovirus being very common at that stage in South Africa- very simple- blood taken into anticoagulant, stored in fridge and allowed to separate- 20-40 ml plasma injected s/c. Seemed to get a good response but then in a disease where some vets could seem to save most and others none, strains, rehydration etc all important. What I do remember about parvo was the pups that got I/p fluids survived, the ones on drips died and if you used the new magic nsaid finadyne(banamine) , they all died. We now know the fluid replacement in drips probably wasn’t fast enough and NSAIDs in dehydrated animals is fatal

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

Yantha Smyth — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 08:35:42 GMT

Hi, I hope the pup pulls through. I resorted to a dose of fresh frozen plasma in a severe parvo and campy case of mine several years ago. At the time it was considered because the dog had widespread peripheral oedema due to fluid therapy and hypoproteinaemia, but I realised that FFP dose to replace plasma proteins would have to be much much higher to be effective...however the dog very quickly turned the corner after that and I wondered if it was actually the parvo antibodies in the donor plasma that helped in the end. I have thought in future I would use this earlier if faced with another case.

Out of interest in the several cases you have had, have they had the same brand of vaccine, or even batch numbers at all?

RE: Parvo puppy, virbagen omega and allergic reaction

Richard Carter — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 07:23:17 GMT

I would be treating with shock dose cortisone- the pup is already in a super inflammatory state and will probably be trying to head for dic if anything else adds to this