Magma was one of the lucky pups hand picked and transported North by Rogers' Rescues volunteers on our Fourth Annual Shelter Trip. He was just fine for almost a week in his new foster home. Then, he started to show signs of illness.
After tests, treatment and trips back and forth to the vet, it looked like Magma was doing better. Suddenly, on Saturday (11/6) night, he became dramatically lethargic. He was hardly holding his head up. His gums were light pink to white and he started to vomit. He was rushed to the emergency vet where they took one look at Magma's gums and whisked him away to isolation.
Our worst fears were realized early Sunday morning (11/7). Magma tested positive for Parvo.
Parvovirus is a viral disease of dogs. It affects puppies much more frequently than it affects adult dogs. The virus likes to grow in rapidly dividing cells. The intestinal lining has the biggest concentration of rapidly dividing cells in a puppy's body. The virus attacks and kills these cells, causing diarrhea (often bloody), depression and suppression of white blood cells -- which come from another group of rapidly dividing cells. In very young puppies it can infect the heart muscle and lead to "sudden" death.
Magma is undergoing expensive treatment to save his life. A donation of any size to help us cover his care is greatly appreciated.
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