Finding the Courage to Save My Puppies Lives

Sitting in order of left to right.
Gabby, Bear, Tinkerbell (biting  her brother) Baby G and Patches

On the 6th day of March 2011, my dog Precious gave birth to five beautiful puppies. She had two sets of twins, each set consisted of a boy and girl. Her first puppy was not a twin and looked very much like Precious's mother. The puppies are of mixed breed. Jack Russell, Chihuahua and Pekenses.  Precious, the mother is also a mixed breed. She is Chihuahua and Pekense. The father of precious baby was a full breed black and white Jack Russell. He was killed on January 9th 2011 by a driver who sped up his car and brutally ran down Gangster, never stopping his vehicle. 

The first three months of the puppies life was filled to plenty of joy and happiness. Patches, an individual male was the first born. He was pink and white. His fluffy white fur  and his pink skin made him stand out from his brothers and sisters. He was so different from the two sets of twins and everyone wanted him. Next came Gabby who looks just like her father (a Jack Russell) with a very pretty tan and white crown. Then came Baby G. Gabby and Baby G are twins. Gabby is identical to her father.  Baby Gangster has the physical appearance of a Jack Russell with the notorious spots on his back and underbelly, but he is the spitting image of his mother even in body shape. Next came the second set of twins. Bear was first then came Tinkerbell. Even though Tinkerbell is a twin, she is the runt of the litter. Watching them grow and develop into healthy and happy and puppies gave me much joy. The puppies turn four months on the 6th of July and all was well and good. Then on July 15, 2011, Tinkerbell had to be rushed to the emergency hospital in San Leandro, CA.

When Tinkerbell and I arrived at the emergency hospital, I was so unprepared to hear her diagnosis. Tinkebell had contracted Canine parvovirus and the diagnosis was not good. Tinkerbell was released from the emergency hospital the next day, the 16th July. Sunday morning, she was back in the hospital. The outcome was the same. Tinkerbell was sent home with meds and both the emergency and the VCA hospital gave me enough medication to treat her and the other four pups since they had been exposed. As I said earlier, Tinkerbell left the hospital on Sunday the 17th of July and when we arrived home, Gabby was ill. Baby Gangster followed Gabby and Bear followed Baby Gangster and final on July 19th Patches begin to show signs. I can say on this morning of July 20, 2011 Gabby, Baby G and Bear are well and thriving.These three had survived this very violent and swift killing disease. Patches, began his meds on July 21st and was well within two days. Tinkerbell is still weak and fighting for her life. 

Canine parvovirus is a very violent disease of the intestinal tract. Researching this disease, I learned that it attacks a puppy's intestinal tract and causes ulcerative enteritis, diarrhea, dehydration and death is swift it not treated in time. Any dog that contracts this disease and dose not get the proper medical help, he/she will die a slow and painful death. Its so deadly, that a dogs could die within three days. Tinkerbell was in very bad shape when she arrived at the emergency hospital. As Tinkerbell laid on the table as the doctor was assessing her.

Once the doctor has a chance to see Tinkerbell, she relieved herself which consisted of thick dark red blood. I was so afraid that I was about to lose her. Tinkerbell had to stay overnight at the emergency hospital and was released that Saturday. Her treatment was all intravenous injectable medications and I had to administer it to her every twelve hours. I had never given a shot of medication to any person or thing and was afraid I would kill her.

For more information on the disease, please type canine parvovirus in you search section on your computer and read from one of the many article written on this disease.