canine parvovirus or canine parvovirus is a disease virus that especially affects puppies, although it can affect any type of dog, even if they are vaccinated. It is a highly contagious and deadlydisease that affects the intestines and manifests as bloody diarrhoea.
On many occasions, and due to ignorance, some owners have confused the symptoms of parvo, which leads to a misdiagnosisFor this reason, if you are the happy owner of a dog, we recommend that you continue reading this article on our site and inform yourself in depth about canine parvovirus, its symptoms, infection treatment and prevention.
What is canine parvovirus? How does it work?
The canine parvovirus is a virus that was identified in 1978. Since then, the initial strain has varied genetically, leading to manifestations of the virus that make it difficult to detect. It is a disease that mainly affects the intestines, causing enteritis, and all kinds of members of the Canidae family, such as dogs, wolves or coyotes, are susceptible to it.
This infectious disease is resistant to both physical and chemical factors and has a very high survival rate in the environment. It has a predilection for installing itself in rapidly reproducing cells such as intestinal cells, immune system tissues or fetal tissues. In the most serious cases, it can attack the heart muscle, leading to sudden death.
The presence of the virus in the dog's intestine makes it more susceptible to a bacterial infection. Also, if the epithelial tissue is damaged, the bacteria can pass into the blood, causing a generalized infection.
Canine Parvovirus Symptoms
As we have commented before, the canine parvovirus has a predilection for genetic mutation, but even so, the detection of this fearsome virus is possible through the most common symptoms, which are always going to be develop any. But how does parvovirus start in dogs?
The canine parvovirus symptoms are:
- Decreased appetite
- Very severe vomiting
- Dog seems sleepy, inactive, or very tired
- Profuse and bloody diarrhea
- Fever
- Rapid Dehydration
- Weakness
- You may go into shock due to fluid loss
- Your heart may be affected
Generally we talk about symptoms similar to those caused by gastroenteritis, so it is often confused and detected late Also it is possible to confuse the symptoms of canine parvovirus with some of the symptoms of poisoning in dogs.
We must know that all these symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea, fever or weakness, among others) cause a very rapid dehydration of the animal, for so treatment should be started as soon as possible. Even so, it should be noted that these clinical symptoms are not always shown in the dog, sometimes they go unnoticed in very small puppies or elderly dogs.
In the more severe cases, parvovirus or parvovirus can cause a decrease in white blood cells. On the other hand, if the affected dog is a puppy under three months old, it may suffer from heart inflammation. In these cases there is no diarrhea and the puppy can die in a matter of minutes or days.
If you survive, the heart damage can become so severe that it will most likely end your life. In this way, in the event of any or several of these symptoms of canine parvovirus, we recommend that you go to your trusted veterinarian to have your pet examined.
Canine parvovirus transmission
This virus is especially stable in the environment, so its presence in public places can lead to an epidemic, since it can remain in one place for months. It is common for dogs to become infected with parvovirus in shelters, kennels, dog parks, or recreation areas.
Although there are breeds that are more vulnerable to this type of virus, such as the German Shepherd, the Doberman, the Pit Bull Terrier or the Rottwailer, there are also factors that can predispose your pet, such as stress, intestinal parasites or overpopulation.
It is common for this virus to attack dogs puppies under 6 months old, although it also frequently affectsunvaccinated adult dogs For this reason, we always stress the importance of regular visits to the vet and following the dog's vaccination schedule.
Although there are several routes of contact, this disease is usually transmitted orally, when the dog comes into contact with infected feces, infected urine, food, breast milk, various objects and we could even carry it in our shoes without knowing it. It should also be noted that some insects or rodents can be hosts of the virus, so deworming our dog should also be a priority when it comes to preventing infection.
Dogs that are already infected will shed the virus for three weeks, even before showing any clinical signs of illness, and once recovered will continue to shed the virus for some time.
It should be noted that Parvovirus is not contagious to humans.
Differential diagnosis of canine parvovirus
Canine parvovirus can usually be diagnosed by simple observation of the clinical symptoms displayed by the dog, however it should always be confirmed by laboratory tests The veterinarian will examine the stool samples for the presence of canine parvovirus (CPV) antigens using a diagnostic kit.
Canine parvovirus treatment
If your dog has definitely been infected by the parvo virus, take it immediately to the vet to analyze the situation and diagnose the disease. Treatment with canine parvovirus will begin as soon as possible and its main objectives will be to combat symptoms such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, control of vomiting and diarrhoea, etc..
There is no 100% effective treatment to combat parvovirus, veterinarians follow a series of treatments that in some cases give good results. Here are some of the steps that follow:
- Rehydration of the dog with dosed serum administration. The use of Ringer-Lactate is common for these cases. It is combined with colloids and is usually applied intravenously.
- For heart or kidney problems, serum doses should be administered with great care, as they are not always well tolerated.
- Blood transfusions to alleviate blood loss through diarrhoea.
- Once the dog is stabilized, a maintenance fluid therapy is continued, basically composed of sugars, together with potassium chloride.
- In some cases the administration of potassium may also be required for recovery.
- Use of antibiotics and antiemetics.
- Use of Tamiflu: the use of this medication is becoming more widespread due to its success in some cases. It should always be completed with the previous treatments, as indicated by the veterinarian.
Support treatment for canine parvovirus
The hospitalization of the dog in the infectious ward of the Veterinary Center is highly recommended for puppies that have not received any vaccine against canine parvovirus. On the other hand, in puppies that have already received the 2 or 3 necessary vaccinations (primary vaccination, polyvalent and booster) hospitalization is not always recommended since they are more likely to survive.
If your dog is not going to stay in hospital, your veterinarian can explain the appropriate doses and do it yourself using the serum packsRemember that your dog cannot be in contact with other dogs, as it could infect them. You should go to your veterinarian to control the progress and development of the disease in the patient.
For a correct elimination of traces of the virus in the environment, you should use bleach. Then you will clean with ammonia. Later with chlorine. Of course, never mix these products, they must be used separately. The use of all of them must be done with the use of gloves, mask and precaution. Do not expose your dog or people living with you in the home to breathing toxic fumes. Isolate them in other rooms and ventilate well.
We recommend that you throw away all the utensils, including the dog's bed, bowls and toys, and replace them with new ones. Sanitize the entire environment, including the house and terrace.
If you want adopt a new canine member, wait at least 6 monthsto get him. The parvo virus is very resistant and can last a long time in the environment, even after the area has been thoroughly cleaned. During this waiting time, find out about products that eliminate the trace in pet stores or in the veterinary clinic. Listen to the expert before wanting to include another dog in your life, her he alth is at stake
Home remedies for parvovirus in dogs
As we have already told you, there is no effective treatment for canine parvovirus, however, it is possible to use certain home remedies for canine parvovirus, with the aim ofrelieve symptoms and offer a better quality of life to the individual suffering from this serious disease.
However, we remind you of the importance of always consulting the veterinarian about the application of any alternative remedy or treatment to ensure that it is appropriate according to the clinical picture presented by the dog.
Feeding a dog infected with canine parvovirus
If our dog has been diagnosed with the parvo virus, it is important that we know what type of food is the most appropriate so that its recovery is faster and more comfortable. Aside from following your vet's advice, it's important to review these basic diet tips:
- Hydration: An essential part of parvovirus treatment is the administration of serum to counteract the effects of diarrhea and vomiting. Drinking lots of water will help in this hydration process. Isotonic drinks are also a good option, since they provide the lost mineral s alts. Change your dog's water at least twice a day, cleaning and providing new.
- Avoid the food: at least in the first 24 - 48 hourswhich is when the virus is especially virulent. At best you can give it completely strained homemade chicken broth without s alt, onion or seasoning.
- Soft diet: after 48 hours se considers that the dog has passed the most serious part of the disease, then you can start consuming a soft diet. We recommend that you include rice water, homemade chicken broth, white rice, and soft canned food. Remember that you should not season it or add s alt.
Once the dog has recovered its he alth and provided that your veterinarian tells you so, you can return to administering the usual food.
Prevention of canine parvoriosis
Strict adherence to the dog's vaccination schedule is the most effective way to prevent this virus, which can often be fatal. It is usually first administered when the dog is a puppy (at six weeks) but can be given earlier if it is considered to be at risk. Before reaching its adult stage, the administration is repeated again, at 8 and 12 weeks. Finally, an annual reminder is administered, so that the dog continues to be protected against the virus.
The vaccines may contain the attenuated virus or the enhanced live virus, in any case we can always consult with our veterinarian which of the vaccines he is going to decide to use.
If you suspect that there are dogs infected by canine parvovirus in the area where you live, we recommend you follow these tips:
- Strictly follow the vaccination schedule and the veterinarian's instructions.
- Strictly follow the dog's deworming and the vet's instructions.
- Bathe your dog with the appropriate frequency and maintain proper hygiene of his body
- Disinfect your home using bleach and, later, an enzymatic product.
- Keep your dog's food in a clean and isolated place, free from possible transmitters.
- Disinfect your dog's products, such as his bed, the bowl, the toys…
- Prevents the unvaccinated puppy from coming into contact with the environment and other dogs.
