The latter, of course, is the topic of this particular blog.
For those who don't know, parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that generally attacks the gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by lethargy, weakness, and bloody diarrhea and vomiting (yes, blood from both ends) and puppies are at the highest risk. There's no "cure", but round the clock IV fluids and supportive care. Some live. More than a few die.
For 6 days, a 7 week old Doberman puppy lived in our isolation ward. She was catheterized, placed on fluids, and medicated. She tucked herself away in the back of the cage, under her towel, barely lifting her head when we'd come check on her. Her eyes were glassy, her nose ran. She refused all food and water. She was petted, and loved, and treated. I cleaned her entire cage, top to bottom, and then held her while she had explosive diarrhea again.
I don't get emotionally involved that often. If I did I'd go insane...but I was obsessed with this puppy. I dreamt of her. I made myself sick with worry that I'd come in one morning and find her gone. She consumed my week.
And then, on Day 6....she greeted me at the cage when I came in. She whined. She barked. She DRANK. I did a fist pump and a few hip thrusts for good measure. I may or may not have screamed "OH YEAH, BABY!!" into the empty clinic.
People are dicks, and make me question myself and my choice of profession on a daily basis. But this sweet little puppy and her kind, grateful, loving family reminded me that my job is worth doing.
We did well, bitches.
