DOG GUYS! HELP PLEASE! Canine Hepatitits

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Daisybuck

New member
A friend of mine has a pup on a feeding tube with major organ failure. Turns out its canine hepatitis. Anyone heard of this? Supposed to happen to Labs more often, but what the heck? Any info would be literally life-saving.

This dog is 2 years old, black lab, great physical shape and never had any issues. Now bam, we're talking no eating (for a lab?!) fluid buildup in body cavity, liver issues, internal organ shutdown. Anyone have this ever?
 
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Bad, Really bad. chances are the dog was vaccinated at some point, but the immunization didn't take, in some individuals the vaccine is in-effective. It's an adeno-virus and it is contagious through body fluids, wild canines carry it as well. Be sure to vaccinate any other dogs exposed. Challenge will be at this stage, is the IV to treat dehydration may exaserbate the tendencies of the disease to create mucous discharge. Hydration may overload the heart, clog the lungs, upset the blood chemistry. Lost a young shorthair many years ago to this. The younger dogs don't last long. A young strong lab has a better chance. Ask the vet about blindness it is a side affect of this but only demonstrates itself AFTER recovery begins. In some cases, the minority, it is temporary. Wish I could be more positive, but it's a terrible long way back. Hope he makes it. We have all been through it one way or another.
 
Thanks -- any information is better than what we have had up to this point. Pup was still stable as of last night. What you are describing sounds like what we have going on. Dog is down to 40 lbs.

Vet says if she can get food into him and some time to let the liver drugs work he may make it. Touch and go... Really feel for this family -- the kids don't know what's going on and the folks don't know much more.

Is this vaccine something vet routinely administer?
 
The vaccine is fairly routine in combo shots, for some reason not fully understood, some individual dogs just don't get any immunity, the shorthair I described was 20 weeks old and had the shot at least twice. Her sister got a mild case and survived,but had bouts of stress related epilepsy there after. If I had it to do over, and please realize, I don't say this lightly by any means, but putting the dog down might be the best course. Vets aren't wired that way, being consumed with fighting the threat for a positive result, but as you have described it, full recovery would be a full blown miracle, and about as expensive as cancer treatment, though I hate to put in monetary terms. We all hope for a recovery, my kids would be devestated, not a reality I'd like to explain. Or an experience I'd like to relive, everytime I have a dog with a little sniffle or discharge, I'm teriffied.
 
Having seen what this can do to a healthy, active Lab, I can see why this is so damn scary. I would not wish this on any living thing, much less a dog as good as this one is.

Fortunately the vet is a family member, so the cost is less of an issue but the after-effects are a cause for concern.

Just so dang helpless here.
 
I've been keeping you and your fiebd in my thoughts and prayers.Went thru a scare with my dog when she had parvo.She's doing better now.It took a long time to get over.
 
Condolences. I hope they get right back up on the horse, so to speak, it's a one in a million occurance. Be sure they wash down the kennel and areas the dog frequented, use bleach. Find another pup to love, start the cycle of life, death won't defeat us. From personal experience, might try a yellow lab this time, for me getting the same sex and color, as the beloved family pet would lead to endless comparisons, it is unfair to burden a new dog with expectations he can't live up to. If he's a different color, at least sub-liminally, there is a reminder that they are distinct individuals.
 
Oldandnew: Thanks for the kind words these last days. We are thinking along the same lines, though the change in color is a good idea that hadn't occurred to us.

Everybody go and love up your pup. I know I am going to when I get home...
 
Sorry for your loss. Lost a terrier to liver failure a few years ago replaced her with another one but different colors on it.It's going to take a long time to get over,it did for me when I lost mine.
 
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