The symptoms of Canine Parvovirus include hemorrhagic (bloody), foul-smelling liquid stool, severe lack of appetite, moribund disposition, and is usually accompanied by vomiting. A high fever often accompanies these symptoms as well.
Canine Parvovirus, more commonly known as Parvo, affects puppies primarily and is often fatal, almost always if left untreated. Parvo is a virus which attacks the intestinal tract. Parvo requires immediate medical attention for the best possible chance of survival.
Parvo is the most common infectious disease affecting puppies in the United States.
The symptoms of Parvo seem to come on fairly quickly though the incubation period is 7-14 days. Usually, the first noticeable sign will be decreased appetite and energy. We used to describe a “limp dishrag energy” too give perspective. This virus usually runs its course with 3 to 7 days. Many puppies die in the first 48-72 hours. This virus acts aggressively and quickly. There is no time to ‘wait and see’.
Diarrhea is never normal in puppies but is common enough due to a variety of causes such as a change in diet, intestinal parasites, or eating something foreign, that it is often overlooked as unremarkable for a while. A bloody loose stool is always cause for alarm and requires immediate attention by a Veterinarian.
Certain breeds of dog, which include Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and Labradors seem to be much more susceptible to contracting the virus and are more radically affected by the symptoms. Puppies under six months of age seem to be most prone to contracting the virus and of course, the younger the puppy, the less natural resistance and physical resource they have.
Parvo is shed through feces and is spread by contact. Symptoms may take a week or two to show up after initial contact with the virus. The virus is very resilient and can survive for more than 6 months in areas which are left untreated. The virus will not survive well in areas of the yard which are bright and sunny, but will do nicely in cool, damp, shady areas. It can survive on inanimate objects for months if left untreated, therefore toys, dishes, crates, bedding, and fabrics should be replaced or properly disinfected.
1:32 ratio of chlorine bleach to water is the most effective means to disinfect the environment and the things in it. Mix ½ cup of bleach with a gallon of water to disinfect things appropriately.
Treatment for Parvo is replacement of fluids being lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Fatalities occur due to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance under which the body can not sustain itself.
Fluids almost always must be administered intravenously in order to be effective.
Nothing can be given orally due to the inability of the puppy to hold anything
in its stomach, and subcutaneous fluids can not be absorbed and used quickly
enough by the body, especially in severe cases.
Antibiotics are often used as well to fight secondary bacterial
infections, and stomach sedatives and anti-vomiting drugs may be added to
the therapeutic regimen to give the best chance at recovery.
Even with the best treatment, the mortality rate is still very high. Recovering from Parvo used to be a 50/50 chance. While the odds have improved along with better medications and therapy protocol , there is still a very guarded prognosis.
The best way to avoid Parvo is to have the puppy properly vaccinated. The response to the vaccine can be varied based on the antibodies the puppy still carries from its mother. It is often recommended that the puppy is given a separate Parvo vaccine at about 6 weeks old…that is, not given in combination with other vaccines the first time. Parvo vaccine is usually given at least 3-4 times over the course of the first 5 months to make sure the virus resistance is as strong as it can be.
No vaccine works 100% and there is always some risk of exposure but the better resistance the puppy can establish the better the chance they have of fighting off the virus if they should come in contact with it.
Of Note:
Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2) was first discovered in the late 1970s and is widely
believed to have mutated from the feline distemper virus. It is believed that
the virus mutated through a host species, such as raccoons or skunks which
can contract both canine and feline viruses.
About The Author
Laura Anderson is a veterinary technician with a 15 year history as a veterinary office manager and emergency technician. She founded Puppys-Place to help new puppy owners find a compatible lifestyle with their new friends.
Copyright(c)protected 2008. All rights reserved.
