Kind Hearts In ActionThese are video clips from Dr. Al Sears lecture in Houston on Oct. 24, 2009.
These videos were created from footage sent in from the owners of distemper dogs saved by Dr. Al Sears‘ treatments.
These are based on Dr. Al Sears discovery on how to fight canine distemper using the Newcastle Disease Vaccine
Complete packet on the NDV Treatments
Paquete completo sobre los Tratamientos NDV (en español)
If you are looking for a vet who can treat your distemper dog with the NDV treatments, write to us @ ed.bond.new.york@gmail.com and tell us:
November 9, 2009
TO OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES:
If you believe we can Save Dogs From Canine Distemper, we need your help.
If you do not believe, perhaps you need to watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeFeC-E9-dk
As amazing as the story of Kaliber is, his story does not have to be so rare. And while it is wonderful that Kaliber lived
thanks to the treatment discovered by Dr. Al Sears, it is a tragedy that his sister, Lil Miss, died.
It is a tragedy that dogs and puppies across the U.S. and the world needlessly die of canine distemper. Although the distemper vaccine has done much to control this disease, it still attacks shelters and strays, puppies and unvaccinated dogs.
And it is a tragedy that so many dog owners do not find out until too late that there is hope, that there is a treatment that can save their dogs. Just today we received word that the owner of a puppy in Colorado could not be saved because the owner did not find our Web sites in time.
And it is a tragedy that so many veterinarians do not know that there is another option for their distemper patients beyond just giving antibiotics, fluids and watching the animal die.
Eleven months ago, the Save Dogs From Canine Distemper cause was launched on Facebook. Nearly 900 of you joined us. We offered information, a little hope and a compassionate ear.
Today, we can offer owners of distemper dogs much more — with your help.
Imagine how it would be, if a dog owner bringing a sick dog to the vet could be told: “Your dog has distemper. Usually this is a death sentence, but fortunately we have Dr. Sears’ serum in stock and we can save your dog.”
Or even if the dog is suffering from seizures. The vet could say, “Your dog is very sick, but we have been trained in a treatment that can turn off the distemper virus and stop these seizures.”
This is the world that I imagine. This is the world that I need your help in bringing about.
Save Dogs From Canine Distemper is now a project run by Kind Hearts In Action, a new 501c3 public charity that aims to help homeless dogs and to support the canine distemper treatments discovered by Dr. Al Sears.
Our plan is to raise funds to pay for the creation of Dr. Sears’ serum across the U.S. We want to document these treatments and demonstrate the effectiveness of this serum. We also will be supporting research efforts into the spinal tap treatment that can save dogs in the neurological phase of the disease.
Our goal is not just to save dogs from distemper, but to push for Dr. Sears’ treatments to be given the serious scientific consideration that they need. We strive for skeptical, scientific inquiry into these procedures to resolve the questions about their validity.
Too often, I hear about vets and experts who dismiss Dr. Sears’ ideas as impossible. But they do so without looking at the evidence. Without scientific trials, how do we know whether we have a new ally in the battle against disease?
Let’s put it to the test.
So, to save dogs and put Dr. Sears’ treatment to the test, we need your help.
We need your donations.
And this is why we have waited until now to make this appeal. With 501c3 status and with registration on Guidestar, you can have assurance that your dollars will go directly to the effort of Saving Dogs From Canine Distemper. Any amount helps, and your dollars will save lives. Just look at Kaliber.
You can donate by going to our Facebook page or to the Facebook page for Kind Hearts in Action at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/375267/21547541?m=dc361cb6
You can also donate by going to the new Web site: https://kindheartsinaction.com/ or to my original site at http://www.edbond.com/distemper/
When you donate, you can designate that your donation be made for the Save Dogs From Canine Distemper project or for Kind Hearts In Action’s effort to help homeless dogs in the Los Angeles area, Under the Porch.
You can also make recurring donations on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. And you can make a donation in someone’s memory. Perhaps that could be a dog you knew that died of canine distemper.
Together, we can at least make one small part of the world a better place.
Keep the faith and thank you,
Ed Bond
Project Director
Save Dogs From Canine Distemper
These are dogs who — like Galen — were saved from canine distemper before seizures started thanks to a treatment developed by Dr. Al Sears.
Twelve puppies and dogs were reported to have been saved by NDV-induced serum. Received July 27, 2011.
Simba was saved with the NDV-induced serum. Received June 17, 2011
Mr. Blue is an English bulldog puppy saved with serum. Received May 31, 2011.
Ten dogs were saved during a recent outbreak of distemper in Florida. Received May 25, 2011
A second report on serum use. Received April 15, 2011
The NDV serum is credited with saving the life of Lucky, another Texas dog. Received April 3, 2011.
Hachi is a thriving puppy now that he was treated for canine distemper. Received Feb. 25, 2011
Two puppies saved with shots of NDV. Received Feb. 14, 2011
Phantom was treated with serum and is recovering. Received Feb. 10, 2011
Sumi is a Miami-area dog saved with the serum. Received Jan. 13, 2011
Five dogs saved by Dr. Sears’ serum in Hungary. Received Dec. 16, 2010
A Texas puppy saved with the help of Dr. Sears’ serum. Received Aug. 1, 2010
A “shout out” to Dr. Sears on the recovery of this dog from Austin, Texas. Received July 24, 2010.
A report from a clinic in Mexico that used the NDV to save a distemper dog. Received June 15, 2010.
A report on the first NDV-induced serum made there. Received May 28, 2010
A dog treated in Orlando with Dr. Sears’ serum and has made a complete recovery. Received April 12, 2010.
How a dog in the Fort Lauderdale area survived canine distemper because of Dr. Sears’ treatment. Received Feb. 19, 2010.
How a rat terrier from southern Florida survived distemper.
A dog from India saved by Dr. Sears’ serum.
Received January 26, 2009
Hi all, This is my experience & knowledge of Dr. Sears’ treatment. It was just too long to post as a comment, so I made a blog for it. Hope this helps get the information out to someone who needs it.
Jennifer Tseng Yarbrough
http://sickdwightpuppy.blogspot.com/
BuddyFrom: “Shari & James Nadal” From: “james&shari” janshan@prodigy.net |
Cookie
Hello Ed, I just wanted to write you a note to say thank you for taking the time and effort to post all of the information about Dr. Sears. |
Bailey
But one of Susan Kovacs’ dogs we couldn’t save. Distemper is such a nasty virus because it can attack different dogs in very different ways. Daisy suffered the neurological attack first. |
Bear
|
Dot
Here is Dot’s story. Part I – A Rescue with distemper “THANK YOU, so much, Dr. Sears! Thank you Ed Bond, and Terri Haase, for putting this important information out there for others to find and hopefully, save their animals too.” |
6/13/2000 — This is Kassi, whose owner, Blake, found my website only days after I put up these pages in May and got  her to Dr. Sears in time. A six-month old puppy, Kassi had just been rescued from a shelter but quickly showed the early signs of distemper, including a green mucous discharge from the nose. “She is another success story for Dr. Sears,” Blake [Resqpet@aol.com] says. “He even has my vet’s attention, he got some of the serum for his practice. . .The titer test shows no signs of the virus at all. Thank you so much for your site, it saved little Kassi’s life for sure.”If you have a dog who has been saved by Dr. Sears, please let me know. I’d like to post other before/after photosof distemper-surviving dogs and your comments on this page.
Update 12/12/09 |
And here is the story of Galen, who was saved in 1997.
And here’s the original story of How Galen Was Saved, originally published online in May 2000.
UPDATE: A study of the NDV spinal tap to treat dogs who have reached the neurologic stage of the disease had been conducted at Kansas State University from 2014 to 2016. After some promising results in early cases, Dr. Ken Harkin ultimately concluded that the NDV spinal tap — injecting Newcastle’s Disease Vaccine directly into the spinal canal — did not help in the recovery of distemper dogs. But he also believes we give up on these dogs too early. The disease can and does go into remission on its own, so dogs can survive neurologic distemper with enough nursing care. So, you should also look at these stories as examples of how it is possible for dogs in the neurologic stage of distemper to regain a decent quality of life.
These are some dogs who had been suffering from neurological symptoms but survived after being treated with the NDV spinal tap.
Hector was treated with the NDV spinal tap on Feb. 10, 2011.
Puik was treated with the NDV spinal tap on Jan. 7, 2011.
Dena is one of three distemper dogs treated with the NDV spinal tap. Video received Jan. 17, 2011.
This is the story of Bailey, successfully treated with the NDV spinal tap. Story, videos and pictures received Sept. 25, 2010.
Here is the story of Bartley, treated for neurologic distemper in Austin. Received July 7, 2010.
Here is the story of MJ, treated for neurologic distemper in Austin. Received July 7, 2010.
Dexter’s owners were told to put him to sleep when he was diagnosed. They found reason to hope. Received Feb. 11, 2011.
It was quite the rollercoaster ride for the volunteers who banded together to save this dachshund mix, but Romeo has finally turned the corner. Received April 12, 2010.
Here’s a letter received from India on Feb. 13, 2010.
Here are the photos and story from El Paso, Texas, posted Dec. 15, 2009
November 2009: Max had to fight both distemper and pneumonia. He was able to beat the distemper thanks to the spinal tap treatment discovered by Dr. Al Sears and used by a vet in Austin, Texas. It has taken him longer to beat the pneumonia, but he seems to be turning the corner. The music is Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” and “Keep the Faith” by Margaret Owens.
Received Sept. 18, 2009, from Clarisse Quitco-Tanner of the Philippines:
Icy’s Canine Distemper Treatment
“The very day she was diagnosed with distemper, me and my husband kept researching about Canine Distemper. I read many many medical articles about it saying that it has no cure and the prognosis is very poor especially when the Neurological phase sets in. She was tested and diagnosed on August 31 and it progressed really fast. In less than a week her neuro symptoms first showed on her right front leg, next on her head and then her hind leg muscles started to show subtle spasms. At first it was just bad when she would rest and sleep, then after a day or two, resting or not it was almost non stop. All this happened in a matter of days. …
“… One morning, a few days after the NDV treatment, I went downstairs and there she was! Greeting me joyfully, jumping, wagging her tail, all excited. She hasn’t been this way since she got sick. We can’t wait to spread the word and help other dogs.”
Received May 3, 2009, from Suzanna Urszuly of Southern California:
My name is Suzanna and I have read about you on the Internet. I have a 5 months old border collie mix puppy who has
distemper. She is really sick now, she can’t even get up. … I don’t think we have much time left and I am very desperate for help. …. About 10 minutes ago she got up ate and walked around the room. She fell down a couple of times but got up. I am not sure if she has seizures or not but she twitches a little with her head and front legs. not much just a little bit.
With help from the Facebook group, Suzanna got her dog, Hunter, to a vet in Austin, Texas, for a body and spinal tap treatment within a week. (Photos by Jade)
(Thank you, Jade and Julie.) Here’s what Suzanna said after the procedure:
Received May 19, 2009
Thank you so much for checking in. Hunter is doing amazing!!!!! … She already felt a lot better after her bodily Newcastle shot. Her nose and eyes were clearer and her pneumonia was gone. Now it has been about about 9 days since she got her CSF tap. She can walk really well now, she does not fall like she used to. She can see at least 60% how, before she was almost blind. She still has a little bit of the “head tilting and chewing motion” going on but it is less and less every day. She is such a happy, pretty puppy. I will send you some photos of her soon. She has a lot of energy too. She dug out my flowers and brought them back in the house and then she hid them under her pillow. 🙂 Thank you again for your help and I’ll be sending her pictures soon.
Update: Oct. 6, 2009
Here’s a video sent in by Suzanna Urszuly. She writes: “Hi Ed, Here is a video of the little girl. She is doing so well.”
Thanks again, Suzanna!
Received Jan. 12, 2009Dear Ed,My dog, Carmella has had treatment with NDV both in the body, and  the neuro part (developed later) injected into the CNS.Her story is very long and is a compilation of months of documentation, before and after pictures, and IÕve even been monitoring her on live webcam accessible from my blog. You can read her blow-by-blow account from as far back as early July 2008 when I got her from the shelter. Here’s the link to my blog;http://artlifenewsblog.blogspot.com/ a photo album of her before and after pictures on Indie Public:http://www.indiepublic.com/photo/albums/946391:Album:541951 and my Flickr profile where you can check out my photo stream for more photos:http://www.flickr.com/people/giftbearer/.Her improvement has been pretty dramatic even though by the time I succeeded in convincing a vet to treat her with  NDV in the Central Nervous System she’d already developed myoclonic jerking in her right, front leg. That was quickly worsening almost daily or every few days, and then just in time a compassionate vet stepped up to do the procedure! That stopped any further disease-progression.As far as I and Dr. Sears know she is the first dog in the US to be successfully treated with NDV into the spinal canal. Several dogs have tried it last summer and have not survived because of inexperienced vets or inability to withstand a surgical procedure in their advanced condition. Then after Carmella was successfully treated for neuro-involvement there was a male Boston Terrier successfully treated.There are a lot more vets who are willing to do the body cure than those who are willing to attempt the CNS part. Every single neuro-vet I asked in the Atlanta area and in Florida refused to touch it. Ultimately the vet who agreed to try it was one who had only done spinal taps years ago and he did it under ultrasound imaging so that there would be no slip-ups. Carmella had no crises or side-effects as a result, just a headache for the first few hours afterwards. I hope that her story can be placed on as many sites as possible so that other dog owners wonÕt have to wait as long as I did to have their vet agree to it. Although Carmella is cured of the virus, the time spent arguing her case because vets didnÕt want to risk “liability” with it not being published in medical journals, cost vital brain tissue she may never regenerate.
Since then she developed Demodectic Mange, but is being treated for that with Mitaban dips and it is drying up, slowly but surely. I’ve attached a before picture of her taken the first week I had her and an after picture so that people can see the dramatic difference. (The headshot was before she developed mange) and her coat was beautiful at that time! Sincerely, Pippit |
UPDATE: A study of the NDV spinal tap, to treat dogs who have reached the neurologic stage of the disease had been conducted at Kansas State University from 2014 to 2016. After some promising results in early cases, Dr. Ken Harkin ultimately concluded that the NDV spinal tap — injecting Newcastle’s Disease Vaccine directly into the spinal canal — did not help in the recovery of distemper dogs. But he also believes we give up on these dogs too early. The disease can and does go into remission on its own, so dogs can survive neurologic distemper with enough nursing care. So, you should also look at these stories as examples of how it is possible for dogs in the neurologic stage of distemper to regain a decent quality of life.
Click here for examples of dogs successfully treated with the NDV spinal tap
This medical protocol covers neurologic forms of distemper which include chorea, seizures, progressive paralysis, blindness. This medical protocol pertains to dogs of all ages who ARE infected with the neurologic forms of distemper. Presence of antidistemper antibodies in the CSF is totally diagnostic of this problem. The neurological symptoms may appear in some dogs as soon as two weeks and in others as long as eight years after infection. In the past, any of these symptoms as noted above resulted in progressive and imminent death.
A new treatment has been developed that has been totally successful in two dogs with all the above symptoms : Both dogs have been positively diagnosed with antidistemper antibodies in the CSF by Antech labs in Calif.
As of Aug 6, 2008, two dogs are alive with minimal signs of the distemper neurologic secondary form. One with seizures the other with blindness and paralysis. Both are alive and doing well 10 months after initial treatment {Photos of these dogs are available and copies or the original lab work confirming neurologic distemper are available.
So far these two dogs have remained symptom free for 10 months. This treatment does not replace lost neural tracts. Neural recovery takes place as new tracts are formed in the brain. I have only used this on two dogs to date. Any further use of this procedure is purely experimental. This medical protocol will be updated and or revised as more information becomes available.
UPDATE JUNE 2009: Several more successful cases have been reported from Texas, Georgia, Florida and California.
Newcastle’s Disease Virus (NDV) is the inducer that will eliminate intracellular distemper virus in the brain, also eliminate the immune disorder causing neurologic damage in the canine. ( C-4 cell damage) I have used the La Sota strain only because it has been available. 1000 dose bottles with 6 cc of dilutent is your inducer. This material can be purchased at any agricultural store that deals with poultry.
Medical procedure protocol for spinal tap treatment
1. Place an IV catheter.
2. Anesthetize the dog as for surgery.
3. Prep for surgery at the foramen magnum.
4. Spinal tap at the Foramen Magnum.
5. Remove 0.1 cc to 1.0 cc of spinal fluid based on the size of the dog.
6. Send the spinal fluid to a lab for testing for anti-distemper antibodies. Antech Labs.
7. Inject using the same placed needle from 0.1 to 0.5 cc of NDV depending on size of the dog directly into the spinal canal and flush the needle with ½ to 1 cc of saline.
8. Treat the dog for shock with fluids after giving this injection.
[Note: A video on how to perform this procedure is available at https://kindheartsinaction.com/2009/12/17/dr-sears-describes-a-spinal-tap/]
Send saved spinal fluid to Lab for Anti-Distemper Antibodies in the CSF. Any distemper antibody found is totally diagnostic for Neurologic Distemper.
Other tests to be deemed necessary by the attending veterinarian. Toxoplasmosis, immune cells, Infection, other causes of neuropathology, cancer.
NDV vaccine will initiate immune cytokines within the brain and spinal area. It will shut down the damaging immune response (active T-cells) as well as eliminate the offending Cerebral Intracellular Distemper virus within 24 hours.
Regenerative ability of the brain stem cells (Schwann cells or oligodendrocytes, and the replacement of myelin, stem cells) will allow for healing over a period of time and it will vary depending on the genetics of the dog and its ability to recover.
Control of the seizure activity at this time can be controlled with Phenobarb, Na Bromide and other seizure medications until all symptoms come under control and disappear. The time involved here depends on the severity of the damage and the ability and genetics of the animal to recover. This can be a long-term recovery.
This procedure does not replace damaged neurons, nor does it make new myelin or Schwann cells. It does stop the progression of the disease and turns off the damaging active T-cells. It eliminates the offending intracellular distemper viruses. Allows for the survival of infected dogs and stops the immunological process from which untreated dogs will expire. Long-term recovery depends on the genetics of the dogs and the ability of the stem cell system to replace oligodendrocytes and develop new neural pathways and replace damaged myelin.
The basic ideas for these procedures were first promulgated by Dr. John Adams of UCLA in the early 70s. His thoughts were that the distemper and measles viruses were homologous and that the ODE an MS were homologous, if not identical. It would be hoped that just one interested person would read this and continue the above research into MS. May Dr. Adams, a giant in virology, rest in peace.
Life long immunity to distemper is conferred with infection from distemper virus.
Therefore repeat vaccination is equivocal. Live Parvo virus is NOT recommended. Combination vaccines are not recommended. Single killed virus vaccines are recommended after a period of time. Usually one year. If questions arise as to immunity have titers run for any virus.
NDV once given to any dog establishes NDV antibody for which there is no need. It precludes the use of NDV in any particular dog in the future as the antibody will neutralize this virus and prevent its activity on the immune system.
Test for neurologic distemper is a CSF antidistemper antibody test by a lab. Any antibody present is diagnostic. A second test just as specific is an MRI of the brain and spinal cord. Deficits of myelin can be identified and is probable distemper, definite deymyelination. A third involves the death of the animal. Pathology check of the brain will show intracellular virus. All three are diagnostic.
IgG corporeal distemper antibodies do not cross the blood brain barrier. So, if antibodies are present in the spinal fluid then you have neurologic distemper. Conversely if you have antibodies in the CSF and not in the blood serum and have had no symptoms of overt distemper then you have a rare form of distemper probably caused by vaccine.
If anybody has any questions please feel free to contact me. E-Mail – antidistemper@aol.com A.W.Sears , DVM
UPDATE, JUNE 6, 2009: These are notes from a vet in Texas who used this treatment. Vets using this procedure are using ultrasound to ensure the needle does not cause any damage. “As far as how to position the head – there are two ways that I have come across. One is with the spine at the edge of the table and the neck flexed with the bridge of the nose perpendicular to the spine – the nose has to be parallel to the table. The other way is similar but the neck is flexed as far as possible – that is what worked for Hunter. The idea is to open the cisterna magnum as much as possible to allow access to the spinal fluid. The landmarks are the same- the cranial edge of C2 and the occipital protuberance (the bone on top of their head, which I like to call the “knowledge bump”).
UPDATE, JAN. 11, 2010: Improvement from neuro distemper is not fast as in systemic infection. It takes weeks. You should be on some form of antiseizure medication if seizures are a problem. Time is now your friend. Must replace the oligodendrocytes destroyed by the virus and once this happens new myelin is produced and symptoms begin to disappear. Takes time. Doc Sears
UPDATE, APRIL 7, 2010: I talked to an old friend vet in Calif today who treated a case neurolgically and had pain. He treated with Buprenorphine and said the dog was much more comfortable. And did well. I would suggest this as a post brain tap treatment to see if it helps with the pain. Buprenophine 0.005 – 0.03 mg/kg IV or IM or SQ . 2 to 4 times daily. Also comes under the names of Buprenex, Buprenor, or Tumgesic. Vets have access to this drug. Worth a try.
I’m hearing of a large group of dogs that are having problems with lock jaw after being treated intrathecally. Do not know the cause. But, most of these cases go on to die or be euthanized. I think this needs to be put into the protocol as an exception. I know of no way to help this situation at this time. Doc
Additional information, endorsed by Dr. Sears: “Also use valium orally or rectally. Between pain control and keeping them relaxed/sleeping for the first week, this helps them recover from the tap and seizures. For a 4 lb dog, we used 0.7ml up to three times a day of liquid valium–per treating vets tried both the cherry kid’s oral and the IV valium in her rectum. I was given pre-filled syringes of buprenorpnine for a week–in a big jar, and several days of pre-filled syringes of valium plus a prescription was called into my local pharmacy.”
Tamiflu–Turns out some of these other viruses are extremely sensitive to this medication. I would recommend that 1 mg/lb be given twice daily for at lease 7 days. Should block most of the viruses we are discussing.
Antibiotics.–All these viruses cause inflammation in the lungs. (flu causes hemorrhagic pneumonia) All leave a BACTERIAL SECONDARY PNEUMONIA. My recommendation is Penicillin -G and Baytril inj three times daily in older dogs 9 Mos or older for at least 10 days.
Penicillin -G and Chloromycetin (25 mg/lb) three times daily for 10 days in younger dogs. (Baytril causes joint problems in younger dogs)
Supportive fluids and feeding as necessary.
There is an effective test for these viruses developed and available through ANTECH. This is a throat swab that distinguishes the upper respiratory viruses and give a good diagnosis. Also for distemper there is still the transitional cell bladder test. Works great to diagnose acute distemper quickly.
There is a test for distemper antigen an intranasal swab that is done at the clinical level. Problem with this test is that it can and does go positive with vaccine distemper virus. So, it can and does give false positive tests for distemper and cause a misdiagnosis.
Bordetella is kennel cough. It is treated with cephalosporin antibiotics. It does not routinely cause pneumonia. Can be confused with the viral diseases. I DO NOT LIKE THIS CLASS OF ANTIBIOTICS FOR PNEUMONIA IN VIRAL DISEASES.
List of upper respirartory diseases that can and are confused with distemper
Parainfluenza
Adenovirus
Canine influenza H3N8
influenza H1N1
Mycoplasma
Corona virus
Herpes virus
Many bacterial pneumonias.
Treatment of secondary neurologic problems in dogs remains the same at this time. This problem is only seen in those dogs treated late in the disease or those that make a spontaneous recovery.
If you have any comments or recommendations please write to me and we can discuss them. I came to realize that a lot of the pneumonias that are reported are NOT distemper. Still need to be treated.
Fighting the distemper virus is only half of the battle. Here are some important notes from Dr. Sears.
You should also review this page on post-spinal tap issues. If your dog is still having trouble after the NDV spinal tap, check out our discussion board for tips and advice posted by other dog owners with difficult recoveries.
Click here for examples of dogs successfully treated with the serum.
Alson W. Sears DVM copyright 2011
Note: Federal law prohibits the shipping of serum. However, a vet may make this serum in a clinic, store it there and treat dogs who are brought to that clinic. This is not an antibody serum. We believe it causes an immune response that creates a previously unknown material or group of materials. We are not sure how it works, but it works quickly when a sick dog is treated with this material in the early stages of the disease.
1. The following protocol is for the production of anti-Distemper serum.
2. This serum is used S.Q. for the elimination of Distemper virus in acutely infected dogs.
3. Early treatment is recommended. Less than 4 days of illness.
4. Treat for bacterial pneumonia for at least seven days!
5. Recovery of acute Distemper Disease is usually within 12 to 48 hours.
6. This is species specific but, can be induced and used in any other species that are susceptible to distemper or related diseases.
1. DOG: Use a 10- to 12-month-old, mixed-breed dog, 60-100 lbs, 27.27kg to 40.91kg, young, unneutered and healthy.
2. Do full lab work-up to eliminate all possible health problems, especially blood-born diseases.
3. Must be previously vaccinated against all local diseases. Eliminate all parasites especially ascarids. If a dog has recently been dewormed, wait a couple of weeks after deworming so the immune modulators of the worms have a chance to disappear.
4. Do not use breeds or individuals known to have immune deficiency problems. (Demodex,Shar Pei’s)
5. Make up Newcastle Disease Vaccine 1000 dose vial. (Use only the 6 cc of diluent vial that comes with the NDV or Saline if Diluent is not available). Inject 6.0cc of Diluent or Saline into the NDV vial. Discard the balance remaining from the Diluent vial. Use La Sota strain. Other strains of this virus should work as well but do not use Killed Virus NDV Vaccine. Use Modified Live NDV. This virus is your cell immunity inducer.
6. Place IV Catheter in dog.
7. Inject 2.0 or 3.0cc of Newcastle virus I.V. from your vaccine bottle depending on the official weight of the dog. (Treat dog with I.V fluids accordingly) (Do Not use Corticosteroids or antihistamines)
8. Induction of Newcastle’s disease virus for cellular immune serum (possibly microRNAs) may only be done once on any dog. The second time around antibodies to Newcastle’s disease are produced and block the immune response. These antibodies are of no use. The immune substance produced is unknown and unnamed at that time.
9. Timing is absolutely essential for taking serum against distemper. Take blood 11-12 hours post injection (11-12 hrs post injection= Anti-viral factors=Very effective against Distemper Virus in VIVO.) Timing is important. (Interferon, antiviral, regulatory, anti-inflammatory cytokines all have different times of production).
10. All procedures must be sterile. Just prior to the 11-12 hours post- injection, anesthetize donor dog (approx. 5-10 minutes before).
11. Place Jugular catheter.
12. Start I.V. fluids.
13. Withdraw blood between the 11th and 12th hour and inject into 10cc blood vials [sterile no additive vials] and allow the blood to clot. All VETS please take out only up to maximum amount from donor dog. Remove blood just short of putting the dog into shock. That can be determined by the color of the gums and respiratory rate. What is amazing is the speed with which a healthy dog recovers. Fluids of course help recovery. We could take about 250 cc whole blood from a 90 lb dog and get about 100 cc of usable serum (A.W. Sears DVM 6/8/09)
14. Centrifuge immediately after clotting for clear serum. Do not allow RBC’s to lyse.
15. Remove serum and place into sterile bottles. This removes all cellular elements. T-cells, RBC’s, B-cells
16. Place serum bottles in baggies and store in refrigerator. Bottles of serum can be stored for up to five years in a refrigerator; longer if frozen.
17. Cryo-precipitates may form after refrigeration. Mixing causes clouding. This is not harmful.
18. May be filtered out with a .02 micron filter. Keep sterile.
19. All my donor dogs have survived. I have not lost any. Not one person on my staff has been harmed by this virus and procedure in the last 40 years.
Note: Revisions may be made as new data becomes available. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Alson W. Sears DVM for further clarification at AntiDistemper@aol.com.
From Dr. Sears: Dose of the serum depends on age of the dog. If for herpes, single shot 1 cc to each pup at birth. If for distemper of any age the dose is 1 cc per dog plus 1 cc per 10 lbs 12 hours apart for 3 treatments. So, 20 lb dog would be 3 cc sub Q 12 hours apart 3 times. for a 30 lb dog would be 1 cc plus 3 cc for a total of 4 cc given 3 times. UPDATE: Give the injection sub Q on the rear legs–left or right–anterior to the great muscle, NOT between the shoulders or neck area.
Tamiflu–Turns out some of these other viruses are extremely sensitive to this medication. I would recommend that 1 mg/lb be given twice daily for at lease 7 days. Should block most of the viruses we are discussing.
Antibiotics.–All these viruses cause inflammation in the lungs. (flu causes hemorrhagic pneumonia) All leave a BACTERIAL SECONDARY PNEUMONIA. My recommendation is Penicillin -G and Baytril inj three times daily in older dogs 9 Mos or older for at least 10 days.
Penicillin -G and Chloromycetin (25 mg/lb) three times daily for 10 days in younger dogs. (Baytril causes joint problems in younger dogs)
Supportive fluids and feeding as necessary.
There is an effective test for these viruses developed and available through ANTECH. This is a throat swab that distinguishes the upper respiratory viruses and give a good diagnosis. Also for distemper there is still the transitional cell bladder test. Works great to diagnose acute distemper quickly.
There is a test for distemper antigen an intranasal swab that is done at the clinical level. Problem with this test is that it can and does go positive with vaccine distemper virus. So, it can and does give false positive tests for distemper and cause a misdiagnosis.
Bordetella is kennel cough. It is treated with cephalosporin antibiotics. It does not routinely cause pneumonia. Can be confused with the viral diseases. I DO NOT LIKE THIS CLASS OF ANTIBIOTICS FOR PNEUMONIA IN VIRAL DISEASES.
List of upper respirartory diseases that can and are confused with distemper
Parainfluenza
Adenovirus
Canine influenza H3N8
influenza H1N1
Mycoplasma
Corona virus
Herpes virus
Many bacterial pneumonias.
Treatment of secondary neurologic problems in dogs remains the same at this time. This problem is only seen in those dogs treated late in the disease or those that make a spontaneous recovery.
If you have any comments or recommendations please write to me and we can discuss them. I came to realize that a lot of the pneumonias that are reported are NOT distemper. Still need to be treated.
1. Young un-vaccinated dogs, usually from pounds. Dogs with all the recognizable symptoms i.e. pneumonia, catarrh, fever, diarrhea, collapse, inclusions in bladder. Elevated antidistemper IgG, IgM .
2. Mild nondescript diseases shows transient signs often not recognized in early stages, quick recovery, can be confused with kennel cough. The secondary symptoms appear later. I.E. chorea, demyelination, hard pad, nasal symptoms, pneumonia, ocular symptoms K/S and old dog encephalitis.
3. New Form of Distemper. Relatively rare- adult dog fully vaccinated multiple times breaks with some symptoms of distemper, the exposure factor unknown-possible wild species exposure. May be new strain of distemper.
4. Vaccine induced type- no pneumonia, no inclusions in body, seizures, and inclusions in brain. No other pathology found upon autopsy. Elisa tests for Distemper antibody of CSF (+), No inclusions in the bladder, no inclusions in conjunctiva. Do not use Distemper / Parvo combination Vaccines. Some dogs suffer from distemper inclusion encephalitis. No treatment that I know of available. Treatment Rx For types 1-2-3. Give lcc per 10pounds plus 1 cc per animal. Three treatments every twelve hours subcutaneously for 3 total treatments. For example 20 lb dog 2 cc + 1 cc Give 3 cc each treatment.
Give antibiotics for one week to control secondary symptoms of pneumonia. I have had best results with 2 separate antibiotics simultaneously. Give fluids to control shock on initial presentation. In desperate circumstances, in the absence of available serum, NewcastlesÕs vaccine can be injected IV, directly into sick dogs. If they are not already severally compromised by the distemper virus they can respond and recover from distemper. Results Complete cessation of all symptoms of distemper in 12-48 hours. Except for secondary bacterial pneumonia which must be treated for at least 7 days.
Opinion:
It has been my observation that animals treated early do not have secondary neurologic symptoms. I would recommend all dogs suspected of distemper have full white cell count, lab work. Run antidistemper antibody IgG, IgM to confirm distemper. An additional test to confirm distemper, do a brush border slide of the bladder transitional epithelium. Stain with Dif-Quick. About 90% of the bladder cells will be positive for inclusions in the early stages of distemper. Rarely inclusions can be seen in the red cells. I have never seen inclusions in the conjunctiva. An IFA test of the conjunctiva to test for inclusions is available. I have no experience with this test. It is best to initiate all the tests and then give serum. Wait for the test results after treating. If wrong no adverse reactions if right you are ahead of the game for stopping the virus. Dogs can be treated later in the disease, after 4 to 6 days, but the serum will not undo viral damage that has already taken place. It is therefore best to treat in the early stages, or with the first acute symptoms.
Fighting the distemper virus is only half of the battle. Here are some important notes from Dr. Sears.
If anybody has any questions please feel free to contact me. AntiDistemper@aol.com
UPDATE 5/27/2010 — FIRST SERUM MADE IN PUERTO RICO.
Dr. Alson Sears, a retired veterinarian formerly of Lancaster, Calif., has developed a serum that can effectively treat and save a dog infected with canine distemper.
This serum is not considered a replacement for the distemper vaccine developed in 1950. But despite the widespread use of the vaccine, there are still cases of distemper in the United States and around the world. The distemper vaccine prevents the disease. Dr. Sears’ treatment is a way of effectively fighting the disease after the dog gets sick.
The key to the serum is the Newcastle Disease Vaccine, which was developed for chickens. However, in dogs the vaccine creates a response that can turn off the distemper virus. The serum is created by using a donor dog who is injected with the vaccine. The vaccine can be purchased at any agricultural store that deals with poultry.
Until very recently, this treatment had been considered only effective with dogs in the early stages of the disease – before the onset of neurological seizures. That is still the easiest and simplest way to defeat the disease, and it is still recommended that an infected dog be treated with the serum within six days of the onset of symptoms. However, a more recent procedure has been developed that has given dogs in the neurological phase of the disease a 50 percent chance of survival.
Dr. Sears discovered this serum in the early 70s by accident, trying out an experimental procedure to make Interferon in dogs. He made a mistake in following this other protocol and unintentionally created his serum. However, suddenly dogs with distemper were getting better because of this mistake. He doesn’t know how or why the serum works, and to find out would cost money that he doesn’t have.
I believe in this treatment because my dog, Galen, came down with canine distemper in 1997. Dr. Sears treated him before the seizures hit, and Galen was completely cured. He lived a full life for nine years until he died of liver disease in October 2006.
I also believe in this treatment because in the past nine years, since I first posted my Web site on this treatment, I have heard from pet owners from around the world whose dogs have been saved by Dr. Sears’ serum. So many more dogs could have been saved if only their owners would have heard of the treatment in time.
1) If you suspect your dog has canine distemper, you need to confirm that the dog has the disease.
From Dr. Sears:
“The best test for rapidly diagnosing ACUTE distemper is to do what is called a brush border smear of the cells of the lining of the bladder. These cells ALWAYS have inclusions if distemper is present. So, easy to collect, easy to stain (quick dip) and instantly diagnosed inclusions in these cells are carmine red and para nuclear. These inclusions will NOT be present in long term distemper cases.
“Any medical person can tell you how to get cells from the bladder. Urinary catheter. Empty bladder, flush with saline and collect some of the last saline. Spin down the saline and remove the cells. Place on slide and dry stain with diff-quick. Very common stain used by most medics or lab people who use medical microscopy. Everyone? I should hope so. Very fast, very cheap, very accurate for Dx of distemper. If present then Distemper. If negative, then either Kennel Cough or Respiratory Herpes. or Toxoplasmosis.”
Don’t wait. Procrastination can mean death.
2) If it is distemper, you should contact us at ed.bond.new.york@gmail.com.Make sure to tell us where you are, how old your dog is, what breed, what symptoms you have been seeing and for how long.
3) Because Dr. Sears is retired. You will need to find a vet willing to use Dr. Sears’ treatment. This may also include acquiring the Newcastle Disease Vaccine. If you have trouble finding a vet, please contact Save Dogs From Canine Distemper. We may be able to help you, depending on where you are. We also can offer practical support while you are going through this ordeal.
4) You may also have to find a donor dog to create the serum. The ideal dog would be an 8-12 month old mixed breed dog 60-100 lbs, young and healthy. From Dr. Sears: “(This is) perfectly safe in donor dogs. However, I would advise a younger mixed breed so that you have the best of immune systems to function. What is amazing is that it can be collected in serum and stored for up to 5 years and maintain it’s effectiveness. This is why we used serum.” However, you may not have time to make the serum. Or it may be difficult to find a donor dog. Also serum cannot be legally shipped, so it would have to be made by a vet at a clinic and the sick dog would have to be treated there.
5) BUT, often using the straight vaccine may also be effective. Here’s a post that explains how that works. HOWEVER, the straight vaccine will not work for puppies 12 weeks old or younger or for any other dog with a immune system too weak to create the needed respinse. The straight vaccine will not work if, for example, the dog has been fighting the disease for weeks. Early treatment is always best.
6) In battling the disease, you also must be very careful about preventing secondary infections. The dog’s immune system is weakened, and so other diseases may strike. You will need to continue a regimen given by your vet to keep your dog’s immune system as strong as possible. Note: If your dog is having significant trouble with pneumonia, you might talk to your vet about having him/her placed in an oxygen tent until stabilized. Not only will this improve O2 saturation, but will speed up the effectiveness of the antibiotics being prescribed at a time when there is no time to waste. Pneumonia kills dogs that might otherwise be cured of the distemper virus, so it is important to treat both the primary and the secondary infection aggressively. In certain circumstances where faster delivery is important IV antibiotics may be better than oral ones.
7) Even if the treatment is successful, the disease has probably done damage to the lungs, stomach, eyes, pads of the feet, etc. You will need to treat these symptoms as needed.
8) If your dog has gone in to the neurological phase, you will need to pursue the newer treatment, which involves an injection into the spinal canal. Here are Dr. Sears’ notes on this advanced treatment.
9) Please document your case. Take photos, keep copies of records that show your dog’s progression into the disease and into recovery. Post your stories to the Facebook page. We need these records and your stories to establish a track record of successes. We also track these stories of treated dogs on our website.
If you want to help us further, join the Facebook group, invite your friends to join and if you have a Web site or blog, please add our links to your site. If you have a dog that has been saved, you can help spread the word by putting up a Facebook page about it. If you have a dog that has gone through the NDV spinal tap, be sure to add your experiences to our discussion board. What you learn may help other owners get their dogs through this ordeal. Also, you could help us A LOT if you would be willing to use your dog as a serum donor.
You might be able to find the Newcastle Disease Vaccine in an agricultural supply store. But there are sources online.
Jeffers Livestock is where you can order NDV (LaSota strain) online. Make sure you order this one which does not combine any other vaccines with it:
Poulvac® Newcastle B
Newcastle Disease(LaSota Strain)(MLV)
(Fort Dodge) Vaccine
F7-JD Poulvac® Newcastle LaSota
$3.97
http://www.jefferslivestock.com/
The above company is in Dothan, Alabama.
Here are some numbers for them:
Toll Free:1-800-JEFFERS or 1-800-533-3377
Local:1-334-793-6257
Fax:1-334-793-5179
Email: customerservice@jefferspet.com
The Newcastle Disease Vaccine can also be ordered through this Web site:
Here are Dr. Sears’ notes on the dosage of the Newcastle Disease Vaccine, when being used as a simple intravenous shot to the body of a dog in the pre-seizure stage of canine distemper:
” Anything under 10 lb. gets 1/2 cc IV. UP to 20 lb. 1cc IV. for 20 to 40 lbs use 2 cc IV. Anything larger use 2.5 cc IV.”
Also from Dr. Sears:
“The directions in the protocol are explicit. It is 6 cc of diluent into the bottle of 1000 virus particles. This is the inducer. Then 1-2 cc of that material is used IV to induce the antiviral cytokines that are necessary to stop the systemic distemper virus. If treating ODE the dose is 1/2 cc of same into the foramen magnum.”
From: DawnHecht@aol.com
POSTED 2/9/2001 — “Bailey was adopted from the Pensacola animal shelter in the late summer of 2000. He was about eight months old. He seemed OK at the time, perhaps a little scared or confused, but in less than a week he was completely lethargic and could not even keep water down. My veterinarian, Dr. Susan Wells of Lillian Veterinary Clinic in Lilian, Alabama, ran some tests and diagnosed distemper. After finding your web site, I immediately called Dr. Sears’ office and requested a shipment of serum. We received the shipment two days later and the vet administered it. In less than 24 hours, Bailey was eating, drinking, able to keep it all down and his bowel movements were beginning to become more normal. We brought him home two days later and he has been happy, healthy and full of energy ever since. He is now a little over a year old and has gained 30 pounds since we first got him six months ago. My vet and I truly feel this is thanks to Dr. Sears’ cure. We had tried everything to get him better, but nothing worked until the serum. We were just ecstatic and ran around telling everyone we could about Dr. Sears.”
8/10/2000 — This is Dot, who might be a Australian Shepherd – Corgi mix. She was rescued out of the West Valley Animal Shelter at the end of July, and developed the signs of distemper within a couple of days. Her rescuer, now owner,