Canine parvo virus type 2 or CPV 2 colloquially known as parvo is probably one of the most feared canine ailments based on hundreds upon hundreds of comments in online forums about pets and with good reason because this very contagious disease can lead to a dog’s death.
Experts say that this virus comes in two distinct presentations, one is intestinal where the dog’s stomach and intestines are inflamed and another is cardiac where there is a respiratory or cardiovascular failure in the dog’s system. The most common signs include vomiting and dysentery and these symptoms are classified under the intestinal presentation of this particular virus. The cardiac form of parvo is less common and usually this form affects puppies who have been infected inside the uterus of their mothers or shortly after their birth. What makes this form very dangerous is that the virus attacks the heart muscle causing dogs to have breathing difficulty before it dies. The cardiac form of this virus is known to many pet owners as “sudden death” because once this happens it will no longer be possible to do anything about it. It is a very difficult disease to fight that is why getting your dog checked by a vet regularly is advised.
Treatment, according to experts, usually involves hospitalization. Vaccines of course can prevent your dog from getting infected with this virus. This relatively new canine disease appeared only in the late 1970s. It is very similar to another parvo virus that affects cats and experts say that it is 98% identical to this particular parvo virus called feline panleukopenia. Whatever the history of this virus is and whatever amino acids it is made of, one thing is for sure –it is a very dangerous disease. For intestinal form, oral contact with parvo-infected feces, soil or formites that carry the said virus can easily infect dogs who are healthy. After the ingestion of this virus, it replicates on the throat through the lymphoid tissues and later on spreads into the bloodstream that is why it is very difficult to fight.
This is where vaccination comes into play because before anything like this happens to your dog, it is a good idea for you to have him or her vaccinated for this virus. There are 5-1 vaccination shots for puppies and they are quite good in replacing maternal antibodies that usually decrease by the time the puppy stops drinking milk from its mother. So to replace these antibodies, vaccination is done so that other antibodies will be developed to fight not only parvo but other canine illnesses as well.
It is also important that puppies are dewormed regularly because worm infestation or the presence of other intestinal parasites will make it faster for parvo to spread making deadlier too. This is the very reason why a lot of pet owners advise those who are new to having pet dogs to give their dogs food that are good for digestive conditioning or intestinal conditioning. Such items include yogurt and fish oil among others. Of course it would still be best for you to consult with a veterinarian for a more detailed advice on this but they usually do not advise feeding dogs with human food. However it has been proven that yogurt and fish oil are good for canine digestive conditioning which protects your healthy puppy from getting intestinal parasites.
What are the signs that you should look out for? Symptoms include lethargy, fever, usually bloody feces, and vomiting. Dehydration is also seen in most cases and this can be very critical for puppies because of an electrolyte imbalance. Since their intestinal lining is compromised due to this virus, there is a loss of protein in the body which leads to loss of strength.
Lethargy is the very first sign of this virus. When your puppy is listless and keeps on sleeping, this should ring alarm bells. The next few symptoms would be your dog not wanting to eat anymore and it starts having diarrhea and starts to vomit. The best thing to actually prevent it from happening to your puppy or dog is decontamination of your home and all of the areas where your dog hangs out. Keep in mind that the only household item that can kill this virus is bleach –nothing else. It is a very sturdy virus cannot be cleaned by regular household cleaning agents so it is best for you to have bleach at home so that you can clean the whole place. It is also important for you aside from decontamination of your whole home to have your puppies vaccinated and this will be in a series of doses. The treatment of course is dependent on how early the diagnosis is. The age of your dog and how good the treatment program is, will determine whether the dog will survive or not.
Bringing your dog to the vet immediately once you see symptoms of parvo will help in saving the life of your pet.
There have been a lot of cases where dogs have died because their pet owners did not bring them to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible. One has to remember that having your dog treated once you see that there is something wrong with him or her is never an overreaction. This is actually a good thing because this would stop the virus in its tracks. Most of the time, dogs diagnosed with CPV are hospitalized. It is also a good idea for you to find a very good veterinarian referred to you by a friend who also has pet dogs. Although the treatment would be general, there are some veterinarians who give more aggressive treatment to dogs infected with this virus so it is definitely very important for you to find one who is thorough with examinations and treatments. Finding a good veterinarian will increase the chances of your puppy or dog to live through this dangerous canine ailment.
If you suspect you dog may have contracted the Parovirus please contact your
Frisco Veterinary Clinic immediately.
