Daisy: One We Couldn't Save
 DAISY
-- "My neighbor adopted Daisy from a shelter in Baldwin County, Alabama
on Dec. 16, 2000. She and her husband just left her outside in the freezing
cold without food or water and they disappeared for a few days. We took
her in and kept her for five days before we ever saw our neighbors even
show up at their house. They agreed she would be better off with us and
gave us her adoption papers. The first week she just seemed to have a cold
or my vet said possibly kennel cough. The cough got better with some antibiotics,
and aside from some twitching and excessive hunger, she seemed OK at least
through Christmas. On New Year's Eve, however (this was two weeks after
she was adopted and over a week since we had her) she started foaming and
seizing. Her appetite was very hearty; she kept her food down and had normal
bowel movements. The foaming and seizing got worse and I was frantic to
find a vet to diagnose her and treat her, not even thinking it was distemper
since her symptoms were so different from Bailey's. Finally, my vet, Dr.
Wells, said it was possibly epilepsy. They did testing for epilepsy, rabies
and finally, distemper. Unfortunately, it was too late. We lost her in
the second week of January. A day later the test results came back diagnosing
distemper. Dr. Wells said the distemper must have attacked her neurologically
instead of digestively as it did with Bailey. This was the first pet I
have ever lost and I was devastated. She was the sweetest and most helpless
little creature who had some really bad circumstances at her young age
and she will forever hold a special place in my heart. We came to love
her so much in her short time with us. I only wish we would have had the
cure in time since she really never had much of a chance at life, but gave
so much love, even while she was sick. Near the end, though, she was confused
and dazed and couldn't even walk without falling down. I don't think she
even knew who we were. It was heartbreaking. To know the cure was out there
and not have had access to it in time was equally as heartbreaking and
beyond frustrating. We truly adored and sorely miss our little Daisy."
- Susan M. Kovacs
Elberta, Alabama |
| Unfortunately, not every dog has been saved. Some owners
just didn't hear about Dr. Sears in time. Here's some excerpts of emails
I've received from these unlucky people. For their sake, and to save
me from getting more of these sad and often poignant messages, please help
spread the word.
- Ed Bond
Thu, 29 Jun 2000
"Dear Ed, I read your article and contacted Dr. Sears
last night. Unfortunately, my puppy, Princess passed away at 1:30
a. m. this morning, due to distemper and possibly bacterial meningitis.
Like you, we took her to the vet and had her vaccinated at 8 weeks but
the virus beat us. She had her first and last seizure in less than
twelve hours after which she died. She was a precious little flower
and we will miss her greatly. Her warm little body and her sweet
puppy kisses. We only had her for a week, but I think I will miss
her more than any of the other animals I have lost to diseases. My
husband calls me Mrs. Noah. Keep your website up; if there is a cure,
people like me will be looking right here, only sooner I hope. "
Thanks, Dawn in Iowa
Thu, 31 Aug 2000
Recently my girlfriend went to the animal shelter and
got a puppy without my knowledge, I was upset at first but the puppy grew
on me FAST! We were happy to be able to give this cute pitbull mix
a good home. ... I got home from work Monday at my normal time, to
find Sasha waiting for me with her little bear in her mouth. That night
while we were watching t.v., Sasha was sleeping on Erica’s lap, Sasha was
breathing heavy.
Erica said "Do you hear her breathing over there?"
Just then she stood up and started to walk all jerky and her little jaw
was shaking, saliva ran down her chin all over the couch. Erica was yelling
for me to do something, it looked like she was choking, Erica patted her
on her back as if to dislodge whatever it was...... I was scared. Before
we knew it she stopped and ran over to get a drink and a little bite to
eat, like nothing had happened at all! An hour later she had another,and
we rushed her to the E.R. ... This morning I woke to the phone, it
was the neurologist, and I could tell in Erica’s voice, it was BAD! She
had several more that night and it had gone from the focal seizures once
a hour or so, to every ten seconds. We made the decision
this morning to put her down, we drove there in tears. I paid my final
vet bill with the last of my money, and went to see her in a room that
was prepared for her. The vet came in with Sasha, and it was so sad.
She could not stop seizing and I don’t think she recognized
Erica and I at first. She was put to sleep at 9:15 in the morning of August
31,00. Sasha will be missed DEEPLY!! I wrote you this
to let you know that this virus is not only devastating on the animal it
effects but also the people who loved the animal, and I hope one day that
Dr. Sears' serum is available to everyone that has a pet dealing with this
virus. We were just a little late for Sasha! I hope people don’t
make the same mistake as us.
thank you,
Geoff & Erica(and from our lil' pupperoni)
Tue, 12 Dec 2000
I have been sitting in front of my computer reading your
website, and I have found myself dissolving in tears as I read about your
experience with distemper, so like mine and my husband's. We didn't know
anyone had even thought of a cure. On November 4 of this year, we adopted
a Shepherd mix puppy, 3 months old, from the Humane Society. We named her
Koga after an ancient Japanese Ninja clan. She was so quiet, like a Ninja,
and gentle, but we didn't know that this was the result of illness. She
bore such a resemblance to Tug that I started when I saw Tug's photo on
the web site. I have never owned a dog, and it has been my dream since
I was a little girl. But the distemper virus likes to wreck dreams.
She developed a bad cough and, after going through an
experience remarkably like yours with Tug, she had her first seizure. We
had been told after visiting 5 different vets that we should watch for
these seizures, and if they developed, there was no use fighting it. She
had one of the "gum chewing" seizures, and even though she was eating and
drinking, we decided to have her put to sleep on Dec. 2, less than 2 weeks
ago.
She was so beautiful and so intelligent, and I still
mourn her death, but I thought I was coping quite well; I realized that
I am still in quite a delicate state when I found myself weeping while
reading your website. It is a wonderful site that has provided a great
deal of information. We are waiting for the customary month to pass before
adopting again, to be sure the virus is dead, and we are cleaning everything
with bleach. We threw away Koga's bed and toys, and we are cleaning baby
gates and her feeding station with bleach. We have raked all leaves from
the yard where she walked (she was housebroken in one week. She was such
a smart dog), and we have even poured bleach solution on the lawn where
she walked. We are waiting until after the New Year to adopt.
When one rescues animals of questionable background,
which my husband and I like to do, one takes a chance. But your website
has given me hope, and I will be less frightened about adopting another
dog. Thank you so much for the link to Dr. Sears as well. If this distemper
virus tries again to do its vile work, we will be armed with information...and
hope. Thank you so much.
Elizabeth
Mon, 18 Dec 2000
hi ed
just finished reading your amazing article about distemper
we found a "puppy chow" puppy in front of my school about
6 weeks ago.
he started having seizures last night.
his older sister (7 mos.) is very depressed since he
didn't come home after the trip to the emergency room.
i read on your page that once the seizures start dr.
sears' serum doesn't work.
of course... your article made me cry so much more...
we too now have 2 cats and two dogs...
we'll try to just take care of him for a few more days....
but im worried about the older puppy. she has always
been very healthy. do you think i should get her tested?
the puppy had very few signs of distemper. the only ones
we can now think of are: loss of appetite, diarrhea, and a mild eye infection.
no mucus, no cough, nothing, only the foamy saliva at 2 am, and the first
seizure at 4:30
anyway, i now forget why i started writing... to share,
to try to feel better, to thank you...
Toni
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