Rare & serious health issues
It’s rare for our rescue dogs to arrive with serious medical conditions, especially if they’ve been fully vaccinated (which can be the case with older adults). The only serious illnesses our rescue dogs have been diagnosed are below.
Parvovirus
Who’s at risk? This disease is predominantly found in puppies because most adults have been fully vaccinated against it. Symptoms: Vomiting, and liquid or bloody diarrhea with metallic odor, extreme lethargy (no interest in taking walks, playing, etc.), no drinking or eating for more than 24 hours. What do I do? Please contact us immediately if you think your puppy may have Parvo. Separate them from all other dogs in your care, putting the dog in a small area that can be cleaned with bleach later. Note: The good news is the vast majority of puppies survive Parvo with treatment. Keep in mind that Parvo is much rarer in puppies over six months of age and adults. In older puppies and adults, what appears to be Parvo is usually just a bad case of diarrhea and/or stomach viruses. |
Distemper
Symptoms: It starts out like kennel cough – cough, nasal or eye discharge, lethargy, and lack of appetite. When it gets to the neurological stage, you will see facial or muscular tics and possibly seizures. What do I do? Please contact us immediately if you think your dog has Distemper. Separate them from all other dogs in your care. Prognosis: Unfortunately, the prognosis for Distemper is extremely poor, and most dogs do not survive even with treatment. Neurological symptoms also can take months to appear so this is a disease that is very difficult to diagnose. What are the odds? Luckily, out of over 1,900 dogs rescued, only 3 have been diagnosed with Distemper. |