We thought this tiny puppy had been hit by a car when we first spotted him, but his neighbors told us he had stopped eating and was suddenly unable to stand.
We suspected he had canine dis.te.mper based on his nasal discharge, diarrhea, and loss of appetite when we checked him in the hospital. Canine dis.te.mper is a virus that can be fa.t.al and for which there is no effective treatment.
We gave him prophylactic medicines because dis.te.mper patients are prone to subsequent pneumonia, and we were overjoyed when he started eating on the first day.
We wondered if his condition could have improved without it because he was so sensitive that affection seemed to be as vital to him as food. For several days, he didn’t stand, and when he did, he seemed to be propelled by his want to provide love. Sparkle has arrived!
