Virus?

Question
QUESTION: Hi Mell,
My baby poodle about 2 months old died and I would like to find out the reason. I was up to something important that day and I was forced to send her to the day care centre. She was suffering from ear mites that time and I did give the person in charge her ear drops. I was told by the vet that 5 drops a day each ear for a week, I chose to believe his profesional though I think that it may be too much for a little puppy. I left the state for few days and the third day, the day care called and told me my puppy passed away. They told me she refuse to eat the second meal(2 meals for a day) and even vomit and her poo is not solid the day before she passed away. The next morning when they arrived the day care centre, she was found dead. She was active and well the day I sent her there. I did discuss with you before about her head tilt a month ago. What's the reason do you think may cause her to death? I would like to keep another puppy soon, I worry if virus was the cause, my house would be a dangerous place for new puppy. There's another adult dog living in my house but he is healthy so i doubt is virus the cause? I think the most suspicious point was, she died just less than a day of abnormal sympthom started. My vet told me sudden death is impossible for ear mites problem. Is it virus or may be the overdose of the ear drops? Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi San,
Im terribly sorry to hear of your loss. Please be assured that death caused from earmites is basically impossible. Her symptoms also do not sound like it was because of the earmite medication. I VERY highly suspect that because she was a puppy (possibly not completely covered with vaccination) and in dog care amongst other dogs that she may have quite possibly died from parvovirus, especially if she had diarrhoea and vomiting. I would be speaking the the dog care about what exactly she was doing the day before she died and if she had diarrhoea and vomiting why they did not seek veterinary attention for your dog. If there was blood in the diarrhoea this would be a sure indication that the cause of death was parvovirus so be sure to ask them about this.

If the puppy died from parvovirus it is difficult to say where she got it from. The usual incubation period for parvo is 5-10 days so it is possible she may have picked it up from a park, the vet clinic or a visitor to your home. If she was carrying it when she was at home parvo can live in the environment for up to 2 years so if you are considering another puppy I would very much recommend purchasing a puppy that has finished all the puppy vaccinations and has certificated to say so. Your other dog may be fine because it is up to date with vaccinations? If not have this done ASAP. Vaccination, if up to date is 99.9% cover against parvovirus.
Again, very sorry to hear of your loss.


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QUESTION: Mell,
If I'm buying a puppy that haven't complete it's 3 injections(may be just finish the 2nd) , would it possible to survive over the virus? If I use the Dettol (germs killer) to clean my room once and all the tools that was used by my dead puppy, can my room free of virus? And may I know, all the things belong to my dead puppy can be use by new puppy or not? Or should I throw all that away and replace with new one? Cages, bowl, snacks and all that.Thanks.

Answer
I personally would not risk getting a puppy that has not completed all the puppy vaccinations and not until at least 2 weeks after the final puppy vaccination will the puppy be completely covered. Parvo is spread in faecal spores and can even live in the soil so it will be pretty hard for you to clean everything. It is a risk getting a puppy that is not completely vaccinated so it is up to you. I would not use the same items your old puppy used unless washed in bleach. Bleach will kill most of the virus so if you rinse everything you can with bleach you might be safe.
As I said, I really would not recommend getting a puppy that has not finished its vaccination course, you might end up with another deceased pup.