Coping With Canine Distemper

My vision is blurred by the constant flood of tears but i need to get some answered.
My Belgian Shepherd puppy was born on my 10th wedding anniversary, 27 Sept 07. I had been waiting patiently for the day having reserved her from a breeder that i had contacted over the Internet. I had to keep the excitement hidden as the puppy was to be a gift for my husband who was battling to come to terms with the fact that his old trusted friend, Sam, a Belgian on 13 years was nearing his end.

Eventually the day came for me to collect her. 10th Nov was our big day. I was a little disappointed that I did not get to see the other puppies, but the breeder said they were car sick as they had just got back from the vet for their first injections. To my surprise my little puppy was being fed a raw chicken drumstick, skin, bone and all. I questioned the wisdom in raw chicken but was told that it was the best food possible, and raw was the only way to get the shiny coat etc.

To cut a long sad story short, by the time I got my Shelley home, she was vomiting and had a runny stomach. I phoned the breeder and he said she would be fine, just reaction to injection and car sick. The next day she was worse and refused to eat (steamed chicken breast meat) or even drink water. I took her to my vet. Injections given, back home. The next day we were back, Shelley weaker by the minute, more injections, antibiotics and pills for nausea. Next day, blood in stools and constant vomiting of clear slime. Shelley was hanging on a thread. On a drip for 2 days and she looked like she was going to make it. i took her home and for the whole weekend she seemed fine. Eating cooked chicken, drinking water and being the most wonderful puppy in the world.

Monday she behaved a bit strange, one leg seemed a bit lame and she was clumsy. I thought she had slept funny and had pins and needles. Tuesday she started having seizures. She seemed to be loosing her sight and fell around like a drunk person. Yesterday I took her back to the vet and he explained that he was pretty sure Shelley had distemper and that her chances of recovery were extremely slim. I took my bundle of fur home and spent the night trying to come to terms with my grief. My husband is still away on business so I am facing this alone. It hurts more that words can say, this beautiful little puppy can no longer sit for more than a few moments before she drunkenly flops over. She tries to walk but her attempts are more like a drunkard on ice skates. She still eats and drinks water, but her tummy is still very loose and the food does not seem digested much by the time she poo’s. I have chosen a lovely place, under a willow tree near a pond to bury my baby and have arranged a stainless steel cross.

Please somebody tell me, what is the kindest thing to do. Do I take her and have her put out of her misery and bury her now, or do I hang on until she goes naturally. How long will it take ? I don’t know how to deal with this myself, let alone explain what is happening to my 9 year old son. Please help……