We just adopted our Kuma last Wednesday, and he's been really lathargic and hasn't been eating and has been coughing and throwing up. So we took him to the vet this morning and he has a fever, and the vet says he has a 35% chance of having distemper. The vet is going to call us at the end of this week and see how he is doing. I've been looking up some stuff about it and most of the things I've read say they have a 50/50 chance of surviving it, but if they do survive they will have problems the rest of their life.

Does anyone have any experience with this? We love our Kuma and we don't want to see him go yet.. Anyone have some positive stories they can share with us to keep our hopes up?

I think to jump to distemper is a big jump. I mean it could be, anything is possible. But I would think more along the lines of kennel cough.

I have met quite a few dogs who have survived distemper. Some neurological issues, tongues hang out, but otherwise pretty normal.

The vet thinks it's distemper because he has a fever, won't eat, and hasn't moved all day. We have to carry him up and down the stairs of our apartment to take him outside for potty time. The vet gave him some vaccinations and steroids to help fight whatever it is. We have a prescription we need to fill for him today. I didn't go so I don't know exactly what the vet said, I can just tell you what I remember from what my boyfriend told me.

Did they do any blood work, xrays, or a fecal test?

Again, I wasn't there. I know they did test, but I don't know what. He said it was only 35% chance and that he'd check back up on him later this week.

He thinks the dog could have distemper so he vaccinated him? What? I hope that means some sort of shot to help bring the fever down or entice eating And not actually vaccinating the dog. Because. Jesus wtf. Nothing against you, I just. Wow. I hope I'm wrong.

Severe cases of KC can be accompanied with fever. Regardless of what it is try to keep him hydrated and get him to eat whatever you can. My new Aussie had a nasty bit of kennel cough and wouldn't eat or anything. But he would take honey. So we did honey and oatmeal. I would grind up the kibble and sneak it in there. It helped.

I would personally take the dog to another vet for a 2nd opionin..

Hi, this is Kichu's boyfriend. I took him to the vet and he gave him a few shots, one was his "home brew" shot. It consisted of penicillin Vit B and Kenalog. He also gave him a Bordetella shot and a Bordetella nasal booster. He did take some blood for lab work but said it isn't very accurate and doesn't guarantee anything either way. He gave us Temaril P tablets and a prescription for Cpnofloxacin(i think that's what it says). He said the Bordetella vaccine should help lots, but he still felt it might be distemper. He advised us it might be best to consider bringing the dog back to the shelter, but i decided we would wait through instead of just throwing in the towel. That is the information i was given, he may have "dumbed" it down a little, i don't know.

I think you really need to take him to another Vet and get a second opinion.

Both of my dogs a kennel cough shortly after we adopted them theirs was probably a fairly mild case. They got better within 2 weeks. I

I bet it is kennel cough, I mean its spread around easily through dogs in tight quarters and where he just came from the shelter that seems to be it rather than distemper like everyone has said (and in my opinion, thats crazy that he got the shot and the nasal). And yes, please do not bring him back to the shelter, if it is distemper and he doesn't make it, he doesn't deserve to die at the shelter, or for them to kill him no matter what kind his diagnosis is, so I'm glad you guys are waiting but if for some reason this isn't something that you guys can handle, do a rescue or re-home him with a family of a previous husky owner!

We've both talked about it and looked up some more info on distemper. Even if it is distemper, we refuse to take him back to the shelter. We love him and we know he cares about us, he deserves to be taken care of and not thrown in a tiny cage waiting to die.

The more we look into it the less it seems like distemper, and to think we gave that guy $140! We'll be taking him in for a second opinion.

I would start the meds, you should really see some improvement within 36-48 hours. If not, contact another vet for a 2nd opinion. Often times vets will get spooked by a previous client who did end up with some serious condition and always preface it with that to avoid backlash. Other times the bet is money hungry and wants to scare clients. The dog came from a shelter and is presenting classic KC symptoms in the appropriate time frame.

He said to start the meds tonight before we go to bed so we'll see. I really hope he gets better, I can't stand to see him like this. I finally got him to eat something so that's a huge relief, and he drinks water when I bring him the bowl, he won't get up and go get it. So I've been bringing it over to him every 30 minutes or so. He only coughs when he moves around now, and instead of throwing up giant puddles, it's down to little drips.

When I have bought any pets sick to vet, fever or not, vaccines are skipped. I agree on new vet.

Nasal and injectable of Bord vaccine?! Talk about overloading the immune system while he's still sick... If it were me, I'd be looking for a new vet asap. I also wouldn't have let them give two of the exact same vaccine at the same time; the vaccine doesn't cure kennel cough, antibiotics and rest do. (and if it's viral, you just have to let it run it's course and treat the symptoms) Vaccinating while a dog is sick is just asking for trouble.

ETA- I'm concerned he ate something putrid or something he shouldn't have and has a nasty bacterial overgrowth in his stomach or intestines that is making him vomit and cough. That or he has pancreatitis or another inflammatory condition. Do you know if he was tested for pancreatits?

I'm with Kristina..I wouldn't give a dog vaccinations at this point. Do you give any immune system supplements? IMO, the best thing to do is get his body fighting along with the meds.

Well, I don't know if it's what the vet did, or if Kuma just needed to sleep it off or what, but he's SO much better today! He's been eating and drinking on his own, we don't have to carry him down stairs anymore, and he's actually been up and around, not to mention trying to chase the cat again! Which ended in him running head first into a wall in approximately 0.5 seconds from when he started running. Needless to say, I've been keeping the cat away from him so he doesn't wear himself out and get worse. He's also been going potty outside! So far only one accident inside today.

I'm so proud of him!

That's great news!

Great news.. glad to hear.. I am hoping he gets better over the next few days.