2 Month Old Puppies Survived Distemper
Hi everyone. I created this Reddit account for the purpose of sharing our experience with our three 2-month-old rescued puppies who survived distemper.
We first rescued their pregnant mother. After around 2 months of being with us, the mother dog tested positive for distemper. We think she probably got it from random stray dogs we used to feed daily outside our gate. Since then, we became much more careful about separating our in-house dogs from neighborhood dogs.
To cut the story short, the puppies also got distemper, most likely from their mother.
We did a lot of research, and honestly, most of the helpful information we found came from Reddit, so I also want to contribute and hopefully help others.
The first day we noticed symptoms in one puppy, we immediately went to the vet. The symptoms were:
- Runny nose
- Teary eyes
The vet immediately used a distemper test kit, and it turned positive. We also told the vet about the other 2 puppies in the house, and he said it was very likely that they were positive too, even if they were not showing symptoms yet.
The vet prescribed the same medications for all 3 puppies, based on their weight.
MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED:
- Co-amoxiclav 156.25mg/5ml syrup Give 1.4ml orally twice a day for 14 days after meals.
- Pawpy Brom syrup Give 1.5ml orally twice a day for 7 days, then 0.8ml once a day for another 7 days.
- Gabapentin 100mg capsule Mix contents in 5ml water, then give 1.5ml orally twice a day for 7 days. Please do NOT administer this without veterinary guidance. Our vet specifically told us this is a strong medication and can negatively affect puppies if given incorrectly.
- Emerplex syrup Give 0.3ml orally once a day for 30 days.
- Multivitamins (Nutriblend) Give 1ml orally twice a day for 14 days, then continue 1ml once daily as maintenance if needed.
- Viusid syrup Give 0.3ml orally every 12 hours for 30 days.
- Electravi (Electrolytes) Mix 2 tablespoons with 1 glass (250ml) of water.
- Royal Canin Recovery Diet Force-feed with a syringe 3 times daily until normal appetite returns.
The vet also advised us to monitor their rectal temperature:
- Normal temperature: 38.2°C–39.2°C
- Cold compress if temperature reaches 39.6°C–40°C
We followed all of these very carefully and were extremely patient with force-feeding and hydration.
Personally, I realized it was not only the medications that helped them recover in less than a week. Making sure they were hydrated and properly fed was also very important. They only lost their appetite for about a day, but we never stopped making sure they had food and fluids.
Thankfully, all 3 puppies recovered.
The only remaining effect in one puppy is some “luga” in her ears, but the vet said it should eventually go away with proper cleaning.
I just want to share this because I know how terrifying distemper is for pet owners. Please, if you notice symptoms, bring your puppies to the vet immediately. Early intervention and proper supportive care made a huge difference for our puppies.
I hope this helps someone. ( Important note: Please still bring your puppies to the vet immediately if you suspect distemper. Early diagnosis, proper medication, and professional guidance were very important in our puppies’ recovery. Our experience may help, but veterinary care is still the most important part.)