My Mom's Diary - Never Neglect Parvo Signs
I just happened to look at mom's diary. And there was this lengthy entry. You can also have a look as that is why she has written this:
Mom's Diary
Waiting to look at Chezhi's poop felt like an eternityThen at last, do I have something to rejoice?
For, after 10 days, Chezhi relieved a poop
That seemed near perfect
And the doctor said "Yes".
It was indeed a relief that cannot be expressed in words.
Welcoming a pet member into the family is not all fun and easy; because your new family member will never convey her emotions, her joy or her pain through words, a way of communication that is reserved for mere humans. It is all expressed through actions, through eyes…it is clear to all those who bond with them, to all those who just don’t have a pet at home but got a pet member in their family.
It seemed like a perfect morning when Chezhi and I set out for walking. But in just a couple of minutes, she vomited…and again the next minute. I wondered if I had to cut short the walking session but the girl was not willing to return. So, we went the normal distance we were used to and returned home but not before I took pictures of her vomit. And I sent them immediately to our doctor. Once we were home, she showed no inclination to have breakfast.
Chezhi loves millets with veggies. I was worried that she refused it but still wanted to try with something else before reporting to our doctor. So, I tried dosai, her favourite food. She simply refused to accept it. I placed the dosai close to her to see what she does. Chezhi placed her head over it and just lied down. This, I felt, was definitely a cause for concern…but I did not think beyond digestive issue. Later I came to know it was parvovirus strain.
While parvo by itself is a deadly disease, it can also lead to secondary infection, which could worsen the condition further. The treatment would ensure that dehydration is prevented and vomiting and diarrhea are cured. Doctor also ensures the puppy gets its share of nutrients to survive the illness – all through IV.
Though I don’t want to think about all those days again, I am writing them anyway so it may help some pet parent who may be having a similar issue on hand. The golden rule with regards to pet issues is to address them IMMEDIATELY.
So, this is how it went:
Day 1: Chezhi first vomited milky-white liquid, which was a bit like phlegm. She had no fever, refused food, was lying down almost the whole day.
Doctor advised not to feed her anything and just let her sleep. He suggested giving ice cubes to lick and advised to give an update in the evening.
She vomited again and it was foamy and yellow in color. There were no signs of hunger. She was lying down and licked some ice cubes.
Chezhi drank water and went to her food bowl in the night looking for food. Doctor advised against giving food and asked to update the next day.
Day 2: Chezhi had loose motion twice during walk but continued walking briskly throughout. After returning home, she had water as usual.
Doctor recommended a syrup and then follow it with liquid food, ONLY if she asked to be fed.
Chezhi refused syrup. She drank good amount of water but did not have any food. There was no vomiting either. Doctor recommended egg white. Chezhi had it.
Chezhi had about three to five mouthfuls of curd rice in the afternoon and 2 slices of wheat bread in the night.
Day 3: Chezhi’s first motion was semi-solid and the second one was watery with foul smell. Chezhi had some water. As usual, I sent the pictures to the doctor.
Doctor called immediately and said the signs are clear indication of viral infection and she has to be administered IV immediately. Hence, he asked to stop feeding her.
Doctor administered IV to Chezhi that morning.
Day 4: The next day, Chezhi was on IV twice, once in the morning and once late in the night.
After the morning session with IV she had loose motion where she was lying. I was very worried thinking she was unable to move and hence pooed on her bed. But the doctor said it is all getting washed away and she would not be having control at that time. “It is perfectly normal and nothing to worry”, said the doctor.
After the drips at night, she vomited heavily. This again, doctor said was nothing to worry and the drugs given through drips were doing their job.
Day 5: Chezhi was on drips again in the morning.
She showed no signs of interest for food. She did not vomit till evening and neither did she poo.
She licked ice cubes, she vomited which looked like clear water.
Chezhi had some tender coconut water. She vomited some of it after a while.
Day 6: Chezhi had some tender coconut water but refused to have it after a while. She had been keeping her head in lifted position. She was given egg white as suggested by the doctor.
She was responding to sounds outside, she was getting alert, her nose was wet. She did not poop.
Chezhi vomited again. It was light yellow in color and foamy.
She was on drips again.
She started playing that night. She was energetic. Doctor saw her video and said that while it was fine to let her play it also had to be ensured that her energy levels are maintained. Yes, we followed it to the dot.
Day 7: Doctor advised to give Chezhi only egg white and tender coconut water throughout the day. Chezhi vomited in the morning. The quantity was less and yellow in color.
Day 8: Chezhi had veg soup. Her motion in the morning was dark brown and sticky. She vomited after having soup. She was on egg white and veg soup the whole day. No incidences after vomit.
Day 9: Slight regurgitation half-an-hour after having egg white. Cravings for food kept increasing. Chezhi was given veg salad.
Day 10: Vomited at about 1.40 a.m. some of the veg salad she had the previous night. Chezhi had some curd rice, dal water rice and boiled egg rice – all in very minimal quantity.
Day 11: Chezhi had dal water rice in the morning. She relieved poo a little later. Hope you read these lines in the opening:
Waiting to look at Chezhi’s poop felt like an eternity
Then at last, do I have something to rejoice?
For, after 10 days, Chezhi relieved a poop
That seemed near perfect
And the doctor said “Yes”.
It was then I remembered how it felt to be relieved. Yes, parvovirus can be much more serious than many can imagine. It is always best to get in touch with your veterinary doctor immediately on spotting the first signs.
"Immediate action is vital to save the little one" insists Dr. Baktha always. Whenever I apologize to him for disturbing, he would say "Please disturb ma, that is why I am here" in a voice that would instantly relax us. He would always make his clients comfortable.
If I don’t mention my niece here, I will not be doing justice for all the support she had extended. Though she lives in a different city and is an auditor by profession, she is mother to three pet members and fosters many, many sick and invalid streeties and releases them for adoption. She was with me throughout; she addressed my concerns; she responded to my calls regardless of the time; I could ask her my silliest of doubts and she would respond in all genuineness just like how she would respond to a tough question. She was caring, she gave valuable suggestions and always checked if I kept the doctor updated. She understood my feelings before I voiced them. It was great to have her just a call away.
Dr. Baktha is more than a veterinary doctor; he is more of a doctor for the family who takes into account the mental wellness of the pet member’s family, particularly the younger ones at home. He does not stop with treating the pets; he educates pet family members. He often says that it is the best way to ensure quality life for pets.
On the day we first met Chezhi, Dr. Baktha asked me if I knew how to check if a pet’s health is normal. I replied in the negative. The doctor took my hand and placed the back of my palm gently on the nose of one of those bigger pets there and asked me if it was wet. It was and the doctor said that it was how we should check if the pet was in good health.
I learnt my first lesson from Dr. Baktha that day and the lessons have never stopped coming. He taught me what to look for in a poop – the form, color, odor and mucus. Dr. Baktha also taught me what to look for in a vomit – its color, quantity and how to know if it is a cause of any underlying health condition. Doctor taught me the importance of quantifying vomit and always insisted that I maintained a journal.
If I have been successful to a certain extent at studying Chezhi’s emotions, it was due to the foundation laid by this senior doctor, who has wealth of experience treating and interacting with domesticated and jungle friends. In his career that spanned decades, he has never once treated a wild animal using physical restraint or by chemical means. As far as he was concerned, the best way was to tell his client what he was about to do and make the client understand and co-operate…it was absolutely fine, even more so, if the clients had four legs with a tail.
Dr. Baktha’s treatment is all-inclusive to put it simply. His caring approach and his natural choice of words go a long way in raising the spirits of the family. His son Dr. Ramesh Baktha guided us throughout, treated Chezhi with expertise and was always available to take calls despite his tight schedule. In fact, on any given day during those 11 days, he had at least 5 pet members every session at his clinic waiting to be administered drips. Such was his schedule but the attention to each of them was personalized.
We can never thank our doctor friends enough for all the support they have extended – right from the time they brought Chezhi into our family till now. And we know it is going to last.
If I don’t mention my niece here, I will not be doing justice for all the support she had extended. Though she lives in a different city and is an auditor by profession, she is mother to three pet members and fosters many, many sick and invalid streeties and releases them for adoption. She was with me throughout; she addressed my concerns; she responded to my calls regardless of the time; I could ask her my silliest of doubts and she would respond in all genuineness just like how she would respond to a tough question. She was caring, she gave valuable suggestions and always checked if I kept the doctor updated. She understood my feelings before I voiced them. It was great to have her just a call away.
Dr. Baktha is more than a veterinary doctor; he is more of a doctor for the family who takes into account the mental wellness of the pet member’s family, particularly the younger ones at home. He does not stop with treating the pets; he educates pet family members. He often says that it is the best way to ensure quality life for pets.
On the day we first met Chezhi, Dr. Baktha asked me if I knew how to check if a pet’s health is normal. I replied in the negative. The doctor took my hand and placed the back of my palm gently on the nose of one of those bigger pets there and asked me if it was wet. It was and the doctor said that it was how we should check if the pet was in good health.
I learnt my first lesson from Dr. Baktha that day and the lessons have never stopped coming. He taught me what to look for in a poop – the form, color, odor and mucus. Dr. Baktha also taught me what to look for in a vomit – its color, quantity and how to know if it is a cause of any underlying health condition. Doctor taught me the importance of quantifying vomit and always insisted that I maintained a journal.
If I have been successful to a certain extent at studying Chezhi’s emotions, it was due to the foundation laid by this senior doctor, who has wealth of experience treating and interacting with domesticated and jungle friends. In his career that spanned decades, he has never once treated a wild animal using physical restraint or by chemical means. As far as he was concerned, the best way was to tell his client what he was about to do and make the client understand and co-operate…it was absolutely fine, even more so, if the clients had four legs with a tail.
Dr. Baktha’s treatment is all-inclusive to put it simply. His caring approach and his natural choice of words go a long way in raising the spirits of the family. His son Dr. Ramesh Baktha guided us throughout, treated Chezhi with expertise and was always available to take calls despite his tight schedule. In fact, on any given day during those 11 days, he had at least 5 pet members every session at his clinic waiting to be administered drips. Such was his schedule but the attention to each of them was personalized.
We can never thank our doctor friends enough for all the support they have extended – right from the time they brought Chezhi into our family till now. And we know it is going to last.
Chezhi - Post Recovery
Big Brother's lap is her favorite spot when she chooses to settle down.
Chezhi often becomes Big Brother's lap-top
She has started to interrupt her father's workout sessions again. She does not allow him to relax in Rest Pose after exercising.
"We are sharing the mat mom" says Chezhi
Her walking sessions have returned to normal. Now, she wants to explore new places. I took her to a lake that was at least half-an-hour walk from home.
From new places, Chezhi walks me back home...
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