I picked Petey up 8 weeks after he was born, and I knew he was a sick little guy. I never had a sick dog before, but I remember a friend talking about his neighbor's dog dying from Parvo.
I just assumed the cute little guy had Parvo. He slept on my lap for the 40 mile drive, and he was limp as a noodle when I got home.
I immediately started researching sick puppies and I was sure he had Parvo. I took him to the veterinarian, and he was diagnosed with Parvo.
The vet couldn't guarantee survival and the treatment was extremely expensive, so I was going to help my cute little guy through the nasty virus.
He was drinking water, but would it be enough to combat the constant diarrhea and vomiting? Dehydration is what will kill the puppy, so I was prepared to sleep very little for the next ten days to ensure Petey's survival.
I went to the supermarket for some baby pedialyte, to replish electrolytes and rehydrate Petey as much as possible. The plan was simple enough. I would be with the puppy night and day, or until he died or until the deadly virus passed through him.
I don't remember exactly how much Pedialyte I administered hourly, but it was just enough to keep his organs fuctioning.
The first photograph of this post is of Petey 10 days after he was diagnosed with Parvo. The day before that photograph was taken, I thought he was dead a few times, and maybe he was just on the edge crossing over into doggy rest.
Petey was a good dog, and a little more aggressive than what you usually see in the Great Dane. A very loving dog, but he was the first Great Dane that I was concerned about being too aggresive around other dogs or even humans. He was the ultimate watch dog and my guard. I think he remembered how much I helped him with his fight for survival.
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