Canine Parvovirus: What You Should Know

Teagan, a 5 year old Boston Terrier
owned by our practice manager Joanne

[Posted on nickelcityvets.com, 8/31/2012]

With a new puppy, there is a lot of information to take in.  Especially if you take them to a veterinarian for their health check ups, the medical jargon can make your head spin.  We have been observing an increase in puppies testing positive for Parvovirus in the past two weeks, and want to make sure you have all the information you need to know what to look for and what to do should you suspect your puppy of having Parvovirus.

What is Parvo?  Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious microscopic virus that causes inflammation in the small and large intestines in dogs.

What are the symptoms?  Lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and (particularly bad smelling) diarrhea.  Blood is not always present in the stool.

How is it transmitted?  It is transmitted from dog to dog through the feces.  Viral particles are shed in the feces, and are extremely resilient to the outside environment.  Because they are so resilient, the virus can live on surfaces, such as floors, shoes, clothing, to name a few.

How is it diagnosed?  A sample of the feces must be obtained for testing.  Nickel City Animal Hospital tests for Parvo in-house for results in 15 minutes.  It uses Parvo antibodies to detect the virus itself, known as an ELISA test (Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay.)  

How is it treated? There is no miracle drug or single sure for Parvo.  A positive dog is hospitalized and given support therapy.  They are constantly receiving IV fluids to replace fluids lost due to the vomiting and diarrhea.  Dogs are also given antibiotics, anti-nausea medications, and immune system support medications.

How is it prevented?  By vaccination.  Make sure your dogs are up to date on their Parvo shots!  Typically this vaccine is included in the canine distemper shot as a 4 or 5-in-1 vaccination.   The vaccine is not given before 8 weeks of age, and is given a booster every 3 to 4 weeks until the puppy is over 20 weeks of age.  So make sure you keep your puppy indoors, and remember that even adult dogs with no vaccination history can still get Parvo.

This is just a brief introduction, we suggest you click the following link and read the series of articles found on veterinarypartner.comto familiarize yourself with the disease. And pass your new-found knowledge around, the fight against these diseases is never complete.  As always, call our clinic if you suspect any problems.