After Rescuing 7 Adorable Puppies, the Supposedly Happy Moment Turned into a Battle to Save Their Lives When They All Tested Positive for a Deadly Virus
A routine rescue in South Tacoma turned into a race against time when seven abandoned puppies were found huddled beside a busy highway. What looked like a happy ending quickly became a medical emergency, and the people who stepped in were suddenly fighting to keep the litter alive.
The puppies were taken to the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, where staff discovered just how serious the situation was. Four of the dogs would not survive, and the remaining three still needed urgent care, leaving the shelter to lean on the public for help.
It is a heartbreaking reminder that even the sweetest rescue stories can take a devastating turn. Read on.
The pups being cared for by veterinarians at the shelter.
All seven puppies were found to have parvovirus following extensive veterinary examinations and testing. This is a dangerous and contagious virus that damages the gastrointestinal tract.
Parvo affects unvaccinated dogs, causing lethargy, bloody diarrhea, fever or low temperature, dehydration, persistent vomiting, among other symptoms. It is a potentially fatal disease but is best managed under veterinary care.
The staff at the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County immediately went to work on the pups, cleaning their fur, taking blood samples, and providing the necessary nourishment. Treatments are usually supportive, helping them to hydrate with intravenous fluids or antibiotics if they have secondary infections.
Their chances of survival were further threatened by the fact that they were malnourished. More than a dozen cases of this viral disease have been reported to the shelter in the past year.
It was heartbreaking to learn that four of the puppies succumbed to the illness within three days of their initial diagnosis. There are still three puppies in need of treatment, and to this day, the shelter's veterinarians are doing everything they can to ...[truncated]
That's when the rescue turned into a full-scale medical fight.
The staff members are doing all they can to provide medication, food, and critical care for the surviving pups.
Puppies that make it through this ordeal will require medical attention as they fight the infection.
This heartbreaking turnaround is similar to a stray dog bitten by a rattlesnake while carrying seven puppies.
Watch the video below to discover more about their journey.
This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder that we need to vaccinate our dogs against this and other deadly viruses and diseases. It only takes a few minutes to get your dog vaccinated, but it could save his or her life in the future.
Donations can be made through the shelter's website.
May these puppies get the second chance they deserve.
From a burning car rescue to battling parvovirus, see how firefighters saved eight five-week-old puppies from flames under a car.
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