74. Follow-up on case 72. Advices to pet shop operators

The banker monitored the Miniature Schnauzer till 9.30 p.m. The puppy was ok. He got his daughter to bed and retired for the night. The next morning, the puppy was lethargic and had high fever. The puppy had also vomited once overnight.

Could this be the start of the parvoviral infection? The puppy was warded. Given an anti-fever injection and fluids. He was normal again for the rest of the day. Active and ate. But confined to the crate.

"How much it is going to cost me?" the banker asked.

Veterinary costs can add up and anything over $100 seem to be 'expensive' to many owners.

"Should be around $150 if the puppy was not staying more than 2 days," I said. "Usually the fever lasts for around 3-5 days if the puppy is strong and can fight the virus."

Costs can come to over $1,000 if blood tests and other tests were done. This seemed to be a viral fever as the puppy was in the pet shop for his 3rd vaccination.

"I saw you at the pet shop," the banker said.

"Sorry, I can't recognise you," I said. I had seen him at the pet shop but had not talked to him. I did not know he was bringing this Schnazuer back to the pet shop for the 3rd free vaccination.

I said, "This puppy was in the pet shop where there are other puppies 8 days ago. So, he must have got exposed to the viruses when you took him back. The puppy was in your home for 2 weeks before you brought back to the pet shop. The viruses took around 7-10 days to cause him fever. As to what type of virus, it is hard to tell. The puppy killer virus is the parvovirus, but he had at least 2 vaccinations earlier."

I said, "Maybe it is best not to bring the puppy back to the pet shop again for any vaccination as it would be exposed to the viruses."

The banker said, "The sibling of this puppy, a female, from the same pet shop did not suffer a fever. She is OK."

"Like people, puppies have different resistance to infections," I said. "Your puppy could have lower resistance."

"Would he die?"

"Hard to tell for the time being," I said. "Vomiting is one first sign of the start of parvoviral infection."





VACCINATION SCHEDULE OF THIS PUPPY.
Date of Birth: June 22, 2007
lst vaccination by another vet: August 2, 2007 (Week 5).
2nd vaccination by me: August 29, 2007 (week 9).
3rd vaccination by me: Sept 29, 2007 (week 13).

ADVICES TO PET SHOP OPERATORS

Vaccine manufacturer recommended 2-3 weekly intervals.
Week 6, 8 and 10 would be recommended for a pet shop as it gets puppies from various sources, usually breeder. The parvoviral infections can come in and stay at any time. It is best to vaccinate within the 2-3 week intervals as advised by the manufacturer. That means you have to be organised.