Bringing home a new pet brings endless joy, but for one family, panic quickly set in after noticing their puppy's unusual behavior.
In a March 11 TikTok video posted to the account @murphydood6, an owner began filming the family's new goldendoodle puppy, Murphy, after they noticed he looked lethargic. He kept glancing down at the ground, uninterested in being petted. He did not respond to whistles to get his attention. Instead, he retreated to his kennel.
Confusion took over since puppies aren't normally so withdrawn. The family knew something was wrong.
A trip to the emergency vet revealed Murphy had been diagnosed with parvo and had a high risk of passing. Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects young or unvaccinated dogs by attacking rapidly dividing cells in the intestines and bone marrow and causing severe illness, an article from PetMD states. It spreads through contact with contaminated feces or surfaces, and because there's no specific cure, treatment focuses on supportive care while the dog's body fights off the infection.
The vet quoted the family $7,000 to treat parvo, but unable to pay that amount, the family decided to try an at-home approach to managing the diagnosis with their vet's guidance.
A separate video on the dog's TikTok account explained that the family administered subcutaneous liquids for four days, but the pup still would not eat anything. They also gave Murphy medication to prevent dehydration and help ward off secondary infections, as well as electrolytes. He looked "lifeless," and hope quickly faded.
Murphy was kept in a warm, isolated area where he could rest with nonstop supportive care, which started to pay off on the fifth day. Murphy turned a corner. The family managed to get a bit of honey into his cheek and he started to perk up. He began slowly eating voluntarily. They cheered him on, and his tail wagged in response to their claps.
Newsweek reached out to @murphydood6 via TikTok for additional comment and information.
In the weeks following Murphy's diagnosis, the family said they began learning more about responsible breeding practices and believe they would approach the process differently in the future. They discovered the puppy had come from a "farm breeder," where the litter was being kept in a shed and their mother was not present when they picked Murphy up.
An article from OKC Vet Campus, a veterinary clinic, notes that puppies raised in environments with poor sanitation or inconsistent vaccination protocols may face a higher risk of infectious diseases such as parvo. The virus is highly resilient and can survive for months in contaminated spaces, including soil, bedding and flooring, increasing the likelihood of exposure for young dogs before they are fully protected by vaccines.
Experts also note that overcrowded housing, stress linked to transport or early separation, and gaps in preventive care can make some puppies more vulnerable to illness while their immune systems are still developing.
The family said the seller later refunded the adoption fee, apologized and removed their online advertisement. They also reported the breeder, hoping their experience encourages others to ask detailed questions about vaccination history, living conditions, veterinary care and to prepare their hopes with essentials such as puppy disinfectant cleaners designed to kill parvovirus, which can survive for months in contaminated environments, before bringing a puppy home.
The TikTok video quickly reached over 1.1 million views, 24,100 likes and 2,065 comments, with users urging the family to seek veterinary assistance as they became invested in Murphy's story.
"He looks so sad, heartbreaking," wrote one viewer, while another said: "Omg praying he lives a long, healthy life."
A third commenter said: "Commenting for an update, I hope he gets better soon. Let us know how he gets on, praying he makes a full recovery."