About a week after we brought Sox home, we discovered that she contracted the Parvovirus (the shelter we adopted her from called me, as I was driving to the vet to have Sox checked out for lethargy, to tell me that one of Sox's littermates tested positive for Parvo -- this information was very helpful in the quick diagnosis of Sox's problem). Parvo is an intestinal virus that is almost guaranteed to be fatal if left untreated. It is very common among puppies (because they haven't been fully vaccinated yet). With constant, professional care, puppies have a pretty good chance of overcoming the virus, but there still is a 20% mortality rate. To make a long story short, we had to have Sox hospitalized for about 5, agonizing days. As is common with Parvo, the symptoms fluctuate during the first few days. It was an emotional rollercoaster because one day Sox would show signs of improvement and the next she'd be worse again. Thanks to the wonderful dedication and support of the vets and nurses, Sox pulled through the toughest part of the virus and we were able to continue administering her meds at home (I kept a log to track what I fed her when and what time and amount I administered of her medications).
When we adopted Sox she weighed about 7.5 lbs. When we brought her home from the hospital, she weighed just over 6.5 lbs and looked so emaciated. I am happy to report that at her last check up, Sox weighs just over 10 lbs! She is acting like an energetic and happy puppy again and all the good and bad (hello teething!) that goes along with it!
