Parvovirus in Dogs And What You Needs To Know About It
Canine Parvovirus, also commonly called CPV or parvo, is the most prevalent, infectious canine disease in the United States. It is highly contagious and often deadly, particularly because current vaccines do not protect against all strains.
Dog owners should therefore arm themselves with knowledge about the disease, it’s symptoms, how it is spread and most importantly, what to do if you think your dog may be infected.
CPV infects mainly puppies and younger dogs, as their immature immune systems make them an easy target. But that’s not to say that adult dogs are not at risk. The disease is also more prevalent with certain breeds including, Labradors, Rottweilers and Dobermans.
The first warning signs that your dog may have parvo will include, general lethargy, depression and lack of interest in activities, loss of appetite and a high temperature. The dog may also vomit, and develop diarrhea which will be yellowish in color and particularly foul smelling.
As the disease progresses, the dog becomes dehydrated, and may go into shock. The dog may also suffer heart failure if the virus moves into the heart. In some cases, heart failure can occur years after the initial parvo infection.
The most common form of parvovirus is enteritis, which attacks the digestive system, specifically the lining of the stomach and intestines. This makes it impossible for the dog to absorb fluids or nutrients, and manifests in bloody diarrhea. Left untreated, it will inevitably result in the death of the dog.
Even if the dog does recover he is likely to be weak and sickly for the rest of his life.
There is currently no known cure for parvo. Veterinary treatment will mainly be concerned with stabilizing the dog’s condition by delivering fluids and a balanced electrolyte solution intravenously. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to take care of secondary bacterial infections.
An antiserum may be given if the dog has severe symptoms, while corticosteroids may be prescribed if the dog is in shock.
One of the reasons that Parvo is so dangerous is that the virus is extremely resilient. It is transmitted through contact with the faeces of an infected dog, and can live in ground that was exposed to the faecal matter for up to as six months.
It withstands most household cleaners and commercial disinfectants, although undiluted chlorine bleach has prove to be effective in killing it.
It is vital that your puppy is vaccinated against parvovirus. Modern vaccines may not provide complete immunity but they do at least provide protection against most known strains.
You should also be very wary of allowing your puppy to interact with dogs you are not familiar with. In fact, you should not allow your puppy off your property until he has had his full set of shots. Better to be safe than sorry.
To read more about parvovirus in dogs, dog care, dog training tips and other helpful dog advice drop by at www.dogsanddogtraining.com

