March, 2009 -- From ZooToo

NEW YORK -- One of Oprah Winfrey's recently adopted Cocker Spaniel puppies, Ivan, has died from Parvovirus, a contagious disease that affects only canines, Winfrey's spokeswoman confirmed to Zootoo Pet News.

Her other puppy, Sadie, is now fighting to overcome the same disease.

"I'm saddened by his [Ivan's] passing, though we only had him for a weekend," Winfrey said in a statement released directly to ZT Pet News. "I remain hopeful that Sadie will pull through."

As of this afternoon, Sadie has stabilized for the first time since she entered a Chicago animal hospital on Thursday.

"Her white blood cell count did not drop overnight and she is holding her own," Winfrey's spokeswoman said of Sadie.

But Winfrey is aware that the dog's 24-7 veterinary care might not be enough to see her through, according to Shelly Rubin, DVM, Winfrey's vet of the past 15 years.

"Everyone is working really hard to save that little dog," said Rubin, of Blum Animal Hospital in Chicago. "It's a deadly disease -- a bad, bad disease."

Winfrey adopted both 11-week-old Ivan and Sadie from Pets Are Worth Saving, a no-kill humane organization in Chicago, several weeks ago. The media mogul debuted Sadie, along with her three brothers, on her daytime TV show March 6; Winfrey then decided to adopt one of the other puppies, Ivan, on-air.

Ivan became ill with vomiting diarrhea mid-last week. One of Winfrey's veterinarians, Barbara Royal, contacted Jean Dodds, DVM, founder of Hemopet, the only animal blood bank in the country, on Wednesday evening.

Yet the blood transplant apparently came too late for Ivan, who was treated at a Chicago animal hospital on Thursday.

"They approached me when they knew these puppies were very sick and wanted to consider the possibility of providing antibodies," Dodds said. "The difficulty was Ivan was too sick. He had already become extremely sick. We were hoping and praying, but knew it was possible that he would not make it."

Ivan died over the weekend.

The focus has now turned to Ivan's sister, Sadie, who is undergoing treatment at an emergency veterinary clinic for the same disease.

"She is getting the best possible care and we are hoping for the best," Royal said.

In light of the tragic events, Winfrey is "doing really well," according to Blum, who speaks to her "every day."

"It [her reaction] underscores what a wonderful person she is," he said. "Both of those dogs were brand new to her, but she is putting all the effort and time into trying to get Sadie saved.

"She is also very practical about the matter and sees that if Sadie is suffering, she will make the ultimate decision that maybe it is time to say goodbye."

Blum added that there is a "glimmer of hope here," and that "it is too early to make a decision" on whether to euthanize the puppy.

Calls to both Winfrey's office and PAWS were not returned as of press time.

PeoplePets.com originally reported Ivan's death yesterday, and also included confirmation of the dog's death from one of Winfrey's spokesmen today.

Royal, who specializes in holistic medicines and treatment for animals, said she first observed Ivan and Sadie at PAWS several weeks ago. She was also with Winfrey at the animal emergency hospital on Thursday.

Ivan initially appeared "fine" when Royal examined him, she said.

"Puppies look great until they don't look good," Royal explained. "Everyone was surprised. It was not at all what anyone expected."

Sixty to 80 percent of dogs who contract Parvo stand a chance at survival, Blum said, but also noted that "a lot depends on the body's defense system."

He said Parvo is "a terrible disease," which normally has a three-to-seven day incubation period.

"The question is, how did these dogs come down with this?" Blum said. "Did they come into the shelter with it, or did they get exposed once they were in a shelter?"

Oprah's puppy dies...........

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