Cooper's Mom
Posts:40
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| 08/02/2007 8:11 AM |
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We bought Cooper for $750 from a "reputable" breeder in OH. He was 8 weeks old when we got him. He was beautiful solid liver, yellow eyes & a bundle of joy. He was our only "child."
Cooper died last night. He was 16 weeks old & 28#. We had him for 8 weeks & loved him dearly. He had distemper. He saw 5 different dr's (3 in one clinic; one Emergency vet & finally the vet that diagnosed him) in 8 weeks...the total time that we had him. We are absolutely devastated & heart broken! Looking back, he had tell-tale signs when we got him....diarrhea, leg tremors, he had his first seizure 2 weeks ago & then the past 72 hours he had 3 more. Last night he had his last seizure & it was devastating to him. Our new vet met us at his office & we put him to sleep last night around 9:30p.
It's amazing how you can love an animal & bond to him in such a short time. None of this makes any sense, but we loved him and have so many great memories. No regrets.
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3164
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| 08/02/2007 8:22 AM |
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I'm so sorry to hear about Cooper. Our little fella is about the same age, and I know how we've bonded, so I can just imagine how you feel right now. Please accept our best wishes at this difficult time - love is never wasted. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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dugger13
northern wisconsin
Posts:5
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| 08/02/2007 8:53 AM |
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Wow, What a short life, but it sounds like it was filled with love. My heart goes out to you.
What exactly is distemper?
Is it hereditary?
Either way i would contact the breeder ASAP. |
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Almost Heaven GSP
Springfield, WV
MH
Posts:731
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| 08/02/2007 9:07 AM |
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I'm so very sorry for your loss. Losing a pet is always heartbreaking and losing a young pup, even during whelping, has always been tough for me. So much for me being a tough guy.
Here is info on Distemper for those who are not familiar:www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_distemper.html
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Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
Bruce Shaffer
Almost Heaven GSP's
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kmoalbany
MH
Posts:107
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| 08/02/2007 9:32 AM |
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I am all too familiar with Distemper. The rescue I work with recently lost 2 adults and 7 puppies to it. It appears the parents were never vaccinated (as they fell to it too) so the puppies got no protection from mom and all had to be put down as the disease progressed.
I'm so sorry you lost your pup. How terribly sad. My heart breaks for you! |
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Katie - GSP Rescue in NY |
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wgspr rescue
Milwaukee, WI
MH
Posts:630
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| 08/02/2007 9:37 AM |
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OMG!! I am so, so sorry! Ya know I gotta take my old Maggiemum in Sat AM for her yearly shots and I considered not bothering with distemper anymore, because she is, afterall, a good 10-12 yrs old.....doubtful she would contract it anymore. But thanks to you sharing your saddest post, I will have a conversation with her vet about the ramifications of not.
I hope Cooper had a safe journey; there are so many others waiting for us at the bridge.... |
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Lisa C. Rossman
WI GSP Rescue, Inc (wgspr.com)
"Until there are none, rescue just one!"
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C J Mystic River
Upper Michigan
MH
Posts:220
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| 08/02/2007 11:07 AM |
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| I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. I know how devistating it is to lose a puppy to Distemper. No words can take away the pain. |
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gsp_lab
AL
SH
Posts:46
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| 08/02/2007 11:25 AM |
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This is so unbelievable. I'm so terribly sorry to hear this. It is soooo difficult to lose a beloved pet--no matter how long you had him. It's easy to fall in love with them. I hope you will get another GSP someday--they are a joy. We'll be thinking of you during your grieving process and hope you'll stay with us on the forum.
PS--certainly you have contacted the breeder about this. At the very least, you are entitled to a refund. Little consolation, I know..... |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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| 08/02/2007 12:29 PM |
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Our deepest sympathy at your loss of Cooper to a disease at such a young age. I have an automatic rule for myself that any dog or pup that I adopt or foster for a short time goes to see my Vet with in 3 days if not the next day for the first Vet exam and required shots needed for that pup... My senior Dogs get all their required shots too as personally I ask myself, Do I want to see and be with my beloved Senior Dog who has been so faithful to me for many years die inch by inch of a terrible disease? I think all the preventative shots can be bought at a store like Fleet farm if you want to save $ and give them yourselves. All but Rabies. |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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wgspr rescue
Milwaukee, WI
MH
Posts:630
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| 08/02/2007 2:16 PM |
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| I've heard it said that dogs over the age of 7 do not get distemper, therefore it's basically a waste of money. Where is Doggie Doc? Then again, there is titers testing for dog's natural immunity testing. There are some vets that believe you can over vaccinate a dog. I have one volunteer that lost her dog to over vaccinating! But with puppies, you must never take any chances. This is just so sad... |
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Lisa C. Rossman
WI GSP Rescue, Inc (wgspr.com)
"Until there are none, rescue just one!"
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zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
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| 08/02/2007 3:04 PM |
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| You have my heartfelt condolences.....so sorry for you loss. |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 08/02/2007 3:17 PM |
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So sorry.
It must have been painful for you and your family to watch him turn from bad to worse.
They love us so much and look for us to care for them. You did everything that could be done.You are wonderful parents.
May the pain be forgotten but, never the dog.
Francine |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Pointer Fan
Westminster, Colorado
MH
Posts:954
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| 08/02/2007 4:34 PM |
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| I am so sorry. I know how quickly you can become attached to your furry children. Our second pointer came from the pound and when I took her to the vet for a check two days later he noticed the neurological problems and guessed that she had distemper. I was already attached to her but within a week she came down with a full blown case of distemper including paralyzed rear legs. We managed to save her but our vet said it was only the second time he had seen one that bad survive. Bottom line--know that you did what you could. Once there is evidence of distemper very few dogs survive. I don't know if older dogs get distemper but the kennel where we board Molly is very picky about vacinations being up to date which I appreciate. |
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gspaddigrace
Western PA
Posts:4
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| 08/03/2007 7:28 AM |
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Cooper's Mom,
Once again, I express my deepest sympathies to you. Words can't make it better, only time will. As I said in my email, I will help you in any way I can. I hope you hear back from Deb soon. Please let me know what she says. I called my vet about Addi, apparantly no big deal. I haven't heard anything back yet. I am just so surprised, the kennels were all so clean and tidy. Maybe it was just a show since I actually picked her up. I don't know. I do feel terrible that I told you that I had no problems with her and caused all this heatache. I'm so sorry, words cannot describe. |
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Cooper's Mom
Posts:40
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| 08/03/2007 8:19 AM |
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Thank you everyone! The breeder is not taking any responsibility...this is her reply:
he could not have had that when he was here , the incubation period is far shorter then that , did he have a nasal discharge and crusted eyes? if not i would be finding a vet that could give you a better explaination of death , we give at least 2 vacinations or a combination vaccine for the common diseases , if is no guarentee that a puppy cannot contact a disease anyway . many wild animals carry distemper , and contact with there urine or feces can infect a dog , and puppies are less ressistant . we have several other puppies and none have had distemper and if one had it all would have it , i know you're angry but , i think your vet should have caught it before cooper died , apparently he didn't see it. i feel bad for your loss ........
I guess she didn't read the part of my email where I told her he saw 5 VETS! She obviously doesn't know all of the signs either. She apparently lives out near some woods, etc....we live in a subdivision. He was not in any contact w/ wild animals urine or feces while in our care. I wouldn't consider the rabbit pellets that he ate at 14 weeks of age, after having received all of the immunizations we gave him, to have infected him...he was infected when we got him. She's willing to give me Cooper's brother but I'm sure the check that we sent her has already been cashed so we won't see a dime of it! The last devastating seizure is still so fresh on my mind. No puppy should have to go through that or struggle for every breath! I'm trying to remember the times he would walk around the house w/ his "baby" in his mouth, all proud of himself, wiggling his entire butt/hipps from side to side like a sidewinder snake. I called him Mr. Wiggle Bottom....he was an awesome little guy. |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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| 08/03/2007 8:41 AM |
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When I was a child, we had a St Bernard that had seizures (Grand mal). I remember my parents took him to the vet and the vet put him on anti seizure meds that he had to take for the rest of his life. So maybe Cooper was born with a seizure brain disorder unrelated to any immunization issues. It is nice that the breeder offered to give you Cooper's brother. Hopefully with no more additional costs. So hard to think about excepting another when your heart is still in mourning |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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gsp_lab
AL
SH
Posts:46
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| 08/03/2007 8:55 AM |
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The offer of Cooper's brother is a very nice one and may just be what you need right now. Only you know. However, I'm hoping some of the experienced breeders and owners on the board will give their opinions. |
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kmoalbany
MH
Posts:107
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| 08/03/2007 9:06 AM |
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Siezures are a final neurological phase of distemper -- Sadly I know from the litter my rescue lost. The first puppy we tried to save even after the siezures started but the suffering was so terrible that when each of the next pups started to show the neuro signs we had them put to sleep right away, we felt the suffering from that point was too great and the chances of survival too small.
It would be very possible your pup got distemper in a subdivision -- there is sucha double edged sword with puppies before their final round of vaccinations. The need and desire to socialize them vs the risk of infections. I'm sure it is also possible he came ill, especially if you noticed symptoms right at 8 weeks when you got him. I'm simply suggesting he could have caught it out and about with you, or even at a vet's office, if another infected animal had been there. I always HATE bringing puppies to the vet before their final round of shots. I hold them and request the vet cleans the table with their bleach solution before I will put my puppy on it. Call me paranoid, that's fine, but if my puppy is going to get parvo or distemper it would probably be from a vet's office. Then we try to stay AWAY from high dog traffic areas and socialize with friends and their dogs who I'm sure are totally vaccinated. Until the final round of shots at 16 weeks or so. It's so hard, I'm so sorry for your loss, it is truly tragic! |
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Katie - GSP Rescue in NY |
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tucker
WAY NORTHERN MINNESOTA!
MH
Posts:599
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| 08/03/2007 11:06 AM |
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I am so sorry for your loss. It must be very hard. We had a male & female who at 7 months old & all there shots got Parvo from the vets office. They were mild cases but Ruger had it the worst. He is 61/2 years old now & allergic to the distemper booster, so I am very careful with him. I don't take him to petco anymore like i used to or let him play with other dogs toys. A new pup will not replace Cooper but it will help, it takes time, but when we lost a 1 year old once we got another pup right away & it helped the whole family who was quite devasted. Good Luck & Cooper will be in your heart forever . |
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Alice,
Ruger,
Tucker RIP 1995-2009,
& Gunner
'To love a dog that has been discarded by another proves to that dog that love really does exist.' -Christi Cooper
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Pointer Fan
Westminster, Colorado
MH
Posts:954
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| 08/03/2007 3:14 PM |
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| We live in a large suburb of Denver and we are inundated with raccoons----trapped and relocated 6 of them in one week from our yard. Raccoons are notorious for carrying distemper so I will continue to keep my dog up to date on her shots. |
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