Puppy bought online dies six days later
Image: Grove Lodge Vets
A puppy advertised online has died from a killer virus just six days after arriving at its new home. A family in West Sussex chose the black and white cocker spaniel puppy advertised for £350 by a breeder in Hampshire. They had made the decision to buy a new pet after their previous dog died a year ago.
A family member recalls “We never asked to see the pup’s mother. We didn’t ask all the questions we’d carefully prepared beforehand as we got totally carried away in the moment. Looking back the place looked like a junkyard - there were so many danger signals."
After bringing the puppy home, despite appearing initially content, it began to deteriorate rapidly; "repeatedly vomiting, passing bloody yellow mucus, [with a] hunched-up painful-looking swollen tummy,” according to its owners. Upon examination by a vet the animal was found to be in an extremely poor condition, and was rushed to Grove Lodge Vets emergency hospital in Worthing. It was discovered then that amongst other things the animal was infected with the deadly parvovirus - highly contagious and often lethal to young dogs.
Grove Lodge Vets' senior veterinary clinician Nicola Bromley said: “The puppy arrived at Grove Lodge Vets in a sorry state. Weighing less than one kilogram she was severely dehydrated, anaemic, and [had] an extremely painful abdomen."
The puppy was then taken to the isolation ward for round-the-clock monitoring and care. “Its treatment included the latest antibiotics, anti-vomiting drugs, gut protectants, intravenous fluids, painkillers, fresh frozen plasma, and even a special injection that can sometimes act as an antidote to the virus, but tragically the puppy’s condition continued to deteriorate, passing watery diarrhoea, and becoming even weaker.”
The emergency team decided, with the family's consent, that the only option was to euthanise the puppy. Nicola commented: "Sadly we're now seeing this similar pattern frequently but it can be avoided by choosing your dog responsibly. Parvovirus is a killer disease that is prevented by vaccination and a clean breeding environment.
"If you're looking to buy a puppy then please do your research. Always ask to see the mother and never buy online, from a pet shop, garden centre or anywhere that doesn't feel right."
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
