3 minute read
Parvo: The 411 on this Deadly Disease
PARVO: The 411 on this deadly disease
Written by Jessica Harrell
Absolutely no one wants to hear that his or her puppy is sick, especially with a life-threatening disease. Parvo is an unfortunately common virus in puppies with fatal consequences, which is why every puppy owner should be aware of its symptoms, treatment plans, and modes of prevention.
The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection, or parvo, is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs, especially puppies between six weeks and six months old. This virus is spread through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with an object contaminated with infected feces.
In untreated cases, mortality rates can reach up to 92 percent; however, with proper vaccination, this life-threatening virus can be prevented. Parvo occurs in young puppies aged six weeks to six months for two reasons. First, Puppies younger than six weeks old still retain some of their mothers’ antibodies (assuming the mother was vaccinated); therefore, the puppies are less susceptible to the virus. Second, by the time the puppy is six months old, they are most likely to have been vaccinated, and if not, they are likely to be surrounded by other dogs that have been vaccinated, which decreases their risk of contracting the disease. There are two forms of this parvo. The first and more common is the intestinal form, where symptoms may include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, fever, hypothermia, irregular heart beat, lethargy, anorexia, and/or extreme weight loss. Parvo affects a dog’s body's ability to absorb nutrients. Because of this, a dog with parvo will quickly become dehydrated and weak from lack fluids and protein. Most deaths from parvo occur within 48 to 72 hours after the onset of clinical signs. Therefore, if a puppy shows any of these signs, a vet should be contacted immediately. The second and less common form of parvo is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of puppies. Additionally, certain breeds are more susceptible to parvo, such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, American Staffordshire Terriers, English Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers. A vet will diagnose a puppy with parvo through a physical examination and blood test and perform further testing, such as biochemical tests, urine analysis, abdominal radiographs, and abdominal ultrasounds, if necessary. Because parvo is a viral infection, there is no definite cure. Treatment is focused on curing symptoms and preventing further infection, including intensive intravenous fluid and nutrition therapy. Luckily, the survival rate of dogs treated by a veterinarian is 68 to 92 percent and most puppies that survive the first three days of treatment make a full recovery in as soon as a week. However, even after a puppy has recovered from parvo, it will still have a weakened immune system and will be more likely to contract other illnesses. Therefore, the owner should discuss ways in which a puppy’s immune system can be boosted with his or her vet, hopefully preventing the puppy from any more life-threatening diseases. Additionally, a puppy may still be contagious for up to two months after recovery from parvo. Precautions should be taken to ensure that other dogs do not fall ill, such as keeping the previously ill puppy isolated, washing all objects the puppy has used, and warning neighbors with dogs that they may want to get their dogs tested if they were not previously vaccinated.
Parvo is a preventable virus and the best prevention anyone can take against this disease is to follow the correct protocol for vaccinations. Puppies should be vaccinated at six, nine, and twelve weeks and should not be socialized with other dogs until two weeks after their last vaccination. Some experts suggest that puppies should receive an additional vaccine between fourteen and sixteen weeks of age in order to develop adequate protection. Additionally, high-risk breeds may require longer initial vaccination periods of up to twenty-two weeks. A vet should be consulted about what vaccination path is right for each specific dog breed.
