Please crown me worst owner in the world...

Anything you have to say, say it. I deserve it. I am the worst human being on the face of the planet, and I deserve any thing you want to say / do to me.

We took Doom into the vet this morning... he has Parvo. I thought the parvo vaccine was like the rabies, only needed every two years. Its not, and now my baby has parvo.

We are doing home treatment, the IV and the meds and the shots, I just can't afford to hospitalize him at $1000 a night. I wish I could, but I'm trying to do my best by him. I'm so upset right now, I can't believe I did something (or didn't do something) so stupid. I feel like I should be the one walking around in pain, like I shouldn't be allowed to have dogs. I've made one of the most elementary mistakes in dog care, and it is doing serious damage to a member of my family, my child.

I deserve to die.

Actually, don't beat yourself up just yet...I just got an e-mail a few days notifying me about a new strain of Parvo that is not covered by the current vaccine and many healthy adult dogs that HAVE been vaccinated have been coming down with it. Here is a link:
http://vetmedicine.about.com/b/2008/04/29/canine-medicine-new-parvovirus-strain.htm
Hope he pulls through! Good luck!

I dont vaccinate against parvo.

what happened, happened... now you just need to do the very best thing for your baby... you sound like your trying your hardest... that is all you can do.

I am sending the best vibes I can for him... please update us on his progress.

Last thing: stop blaming yourself and try and relax... your baby needs you now.

No you don't and you're not. There's nothing you could of really done, parvo shots don't prevent all strains of parvo. I hope Doom gets better. Do you know where he could of gotten it from? What about your other dogs?

The dog park probably, or one of the foster dogs I've had here for grooming.
None of the other dogs have shown any sign of it. They're all going in for testing just to be safe, tomorrow.

Ditto ^^

((hugs)) good vibes being sent your way

Oh goodness, poor Doom! ((((HUGS)))))

I didn't know about that new resistant strain of parvo... I'm going to be extra careful, and ask my vet about it when Ilsa goes in for her Rabies shot this month.

let us know what they have to say!

Hang in there BC---I hope your boy will be ok.

((((((HUGS)))))))

Seriously, what everyone else said. You are NOT the worst person in the world at all. We're here for you.

Thanks guys. Mom's trying to make it better with going shopping to buy the appliances we'll need for the new house. How would that make it better in any sense? I don't even feel like leaving Doom.

I wish the best for you and Doom . Don't blame yourself !!! If anything blame your vet for lack of advice ! My clinic's vets and I discus shots . Neither of us want to over do . They have my dog's health as #1 ... not our pocketbooks !

First off - don't be so hard on yourself. It's not at all your fault. Parvo is a vaccine that can be given every 2-3 years and even longer. Parvo is also known to be difficult to vaccinate against.

My dogs don't get a parvo booster after their first year booster, they just get titers.

This article has better info on the "new" strain of parvo.

Prayers for her recovery, hugs to you, and go stock up on bleach!!

Ditto'd again and ((HUGS)). My prayers are with you and Doom.

i hope your guy is feeling better soon!

I hope so too, guys. Our vet told me he had a 50% chance of living if I home treated, but chances weren't much better if I hospitalized him. I'd rather him be home and comfortable than in a strange place with nobody he knows. I can do this. I want to be a vet any way, eventually, so here goes my first big experience, right?
*Is totally terrified*
Thanks everyone for your good vibes and best wishes, and not ripping my heart out. You are all such wonderful, amazing people.

Hugs and keep us posted !!!

We don't give our dogs yearly boosters on Parvo either... or anything else for that matter. I try to give as limited amount of vaccines as possible. You most certainly are not a terrible dog owner - you're a great one! I hope he pulls through and is back to his regular self soon! (((hugs)))

You are not a bad dog owner. Best wishes to doom. I dont give parvo after puppyhood either.

Please don't beat yourself up! You are not a bad owner! I don't give yearly vaccines either (except Rabies). When I worked for animal control, I home treated several dogs with Parvo successfully so it definitely can be done.

Sending tons of vibes and good thoughts for Doom and for you. (((hugs)))

You've home treated too? Do you have any advice? I keep running in to check on him... I think I'm driving him crazy.