Carolyn, This tentative diagnosis is just heartbreaking. If accurate, it�s
*not* inevitably a death sentence, but it�s devastating to hear and
difficult to bear the uncertainty of waiting to see if she does recover (and
she might).
Diffenbachia (�dumb cane�) has leaves that are usually large
(longer than wide), mainly green with cream-colored stripes or mottling. Do
you see any leaves that look chewed? You also mentioned a mushroom � was
this a guess or do you know for sure she ate one?
Distemper is also often difficult to distinguish from Parvo.
Here�s a site with a good deal of information:
http://www.vetinfo.com/ddistemper.html
A few facts from that website:
The virus continues to be �shed� for up to 3 months, which is why
quarantining the animal, to protect the others from contagion, was one
instruction.
Clinical signs typically appear 10-14 days after exposure; does this fit in
any way with your experience? (was puppy exposed to any outside dogs? Had
she just been vaccinated? Conceivably it�s a reaction to the vaccination,
but not necessarily � if she had been recently exposed to the virus, she
might not have been protected yet, since it takes 10-14 days for the
vaccination to take effect.)
Does puppy have other symptoms consistent with distemper (either now or in
the last couple of weeks), e.g., fever, loss of appetite [you did mention
that one] or gastrointestinal upset, nasal discharge or other respiratory
symptoms, low white blood cell count?
On another site --
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/dedistemper.html -- I read the
following: �Some puppies develop signs of canine distemper following
vaccination even though they do not appear to have the disease. [I assume
this means they show symptoms but diagnostic swabs etc. do not confirm
presence of distemper.] In these puppies encephalitis occurs. This can be
fatal, although most puppies probably recover.�
You might stay up late reading, but I imagine it might be hard
to sleep anyway at this point. Good luck to both of you and please keep us
updated.
Alida
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