Does anyone have experience with a Parvo pup, 7 wks with LOW White Blood Cell Counts?We adopted a puppy at 6 weeks. She hadn't had her first shots. Six days in she had diarrhea, and one incident of vomiting. Took her to the Animal Hospital, was diagnosed as Parvo. She was put on IV and given medicine for the diarrhea and nausea/vomiting as well as antibiotics. We contacted the place we got her, and after the ER Doc said she would be fine for the 2 hour ride, I dropped her off so her vet could take care of her. They did a CBC and found her white cell count was .3. not 3 ... .3 They put her on Plasma, and it did not raise it, now they are trying a drug given to cancer patients to boost her WC count. By tomorrow, if her numbers don't improve, they feel she will be suffering too much, and the vet would recommend euthanizing her. Does this make sense? This is my first experience, and while I by no means want her to suffer, My family and I really want her to make it. Can anyone think of anything else? The new vet thinks the Animal Hospital should have done a cbc and seen the low count, and started treatment for it. They feel the new treatment might not work because it should have been done earlier.
Also, is plasma the same as a blood transfusion??
PLEASE HELP.
Answer by gracieg
Parvo strips your dog of his white blood cells....so a low count will be expected....in fact generally a dogs WBC will hit the floor and then when or if (and I am sorry to have to word it like that but I mist to be honest) it starts climbing back up then they are on the road to recovery. Plasma is a bit different than a full blood transfusion. Plasma is protein enriched and it is essentially what is left of blood cells when you remove the red blood cells. The main purpose to give a Parvo pup plasma is hoping that the Plasma offers antibodies from another dog to fight the disease and other things you can read about because I just found a web page that explains about Neupogen and why it is often given to Parvo dogs to stimulate white blood cell reproduction. Don't give up. That is all I can tell you. It is a rotten, horrible disease but I have seen whole litters taken out yet one will survive. So don't give up. In my 10 years as a tech I have seen the worst live through it. So please don't lose hope yet.....This page gives you treatments that you might want to ask about. Parvo is a usual 5-7 day stay...and you know I promise you will know when the right time is to Euthanize but I am hoping that you won't have to. Parvo is rough. Please let me know if she makes it. A low WBC doesn't mean she is gone though. It doesn't. It is what Parvo does....Read more...and good luck....You are in my prayers...and you are a very kind person to even go as far as you have to save your dog. I hope she lives....
Answer by Lauren M
Oh I hate when vets bad mouth other vets. The treatment your original vet gave is the standard treatment for Parvo cases, especially since 90% of Parvo cases vets see are from clients who can't pay. Not saying you can't or that they assumed that, it's just that they get used to doing a certain level of treatment for this disease based on experience and that's how it goes. ER vets usually go WAY overboard with the labwork, although in this case it was justified.
That said, Parvo cases are really tough. In general, I usually just tell people that it's a 50/50 chance the dog will recover through the entire treatment until the dog is pronounced cured. I've seen puppies look like they are on the road to recovery, get really active and seem like they are getting better... then die in the kennel overnight with no warning.
And I've seen some on death's doorstep make a full recovery. It's just a really tough disease with unpredictable results.
Plasma is a partial blood transfusion. Plasma is blood without red blood cells. The dog isn't anemic (I'm assuming) and doesn't need the red blood cells so they are just giving the other part that include stuff like white blood cells.
The problem with parvo is it attacks the intestines of the dog and causes the lining of the intestine to slough off making it impossible to absorb any nutrients from food (and it HURTS a lot, so your poor puppy should be on some kind of pain meds). This lack of nutrients and fluids can also have bad effects on other organs like the heart. Over time, without stopping the vomiting and diarrhea, the puppy just gets weaker and weaker and other organs become more damaged. So the only real treatment is not really a treatment for the disease at all. You just support the puppy until the virus can work itself out. You make sure the puppy stays hydrated, stop the vomiting and diarrhea, reduce the pain, give nutrients by IV injection. Sometimes giving a blood transfusion from a dog that has recovered from Parvo can help as they already have antibodies to fight off the virus. I don't know a lot of vets that do that and I have no idea of the success rate of that treatment, but if your vet has that option you might ask about it. Also probiotic supplement can help restore the normal bacterial flora of the intestinal tract and help restart the digestive system but your pup may not be at that point, yet.
Answer by Rebel
Hi
Time is of the essence when dealing with parvo. It's a horrible disease.
Sadly, the death rate is high with parvo, even when caught early. We once had a litter of 4 that got it, and can still remember how excruciating it was to watch them die, despite round the clock efforts. However one of the girls just kept fighting. She's a beautiful dog today. It's a tough decision that you have to make. There is no right or wrong decision.
best wishes,
Rebel
Answer by grinninh
My heart goes out to you and your puppy.
I applaude you for going the distance with your dog and giving her a chance with the plasma transfusion.
Plasma is the yellow liquid that is left when blood is centrifuged (spun down)
Plasma is basically water,protein,minerals,glucose and hormones.
Its the nutrients in blood.
Sometimes one transfusion is not enough but that is something that you need to discuss with the vet.
If her values do not improve you need to spend time with her.
Get a feel of how she is handling this.
You are her advocate and if she is willing to eat some food or is receptive to your touch.
She may have fight left in her
You have to also be willing to let her go if she is unresponsive and depressed.
Typically if a Parvo patient makes it past 3 days of treatment they survive.
I have seen miracles in parvo pups who I thought were hopeless recover.
I have also seen dogs I thought would survive illness not make it in the end.
You just need to visit the her and encourage her.
I know its absolutely heartbreaking but you choose this pup for a reason.
Without you she likely would not have this chance.
Even if she is not strong enough to make it you are to make sure she doesn't suffer needlessly.
What she is going through now is rough but its so she has a chance at life.
I am saddened by your pups illness but find comfort in knowing that this little puppy will have lived and been loved.
If you have any questions or concerns and think I may be of help feel free to get in touch with me.
I have worked in the veterinary ER/critical care and nursed the ill.
My prayers are with you and your pup.....miracles do happen!
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