The truth is that answering this question is impossible, since the life expectancy of a dog infected with the parvovirus will depend on various factorsParvovirus is one of the diseases most feared by dog keepers, especially those who live with a puppy, since they are usually the most seriously affected animals. And it is that, if not treated, this disease has many possibilities of becoming fatal. Therefore, if our dog contracts this virus, the first question, in all probability, will be how long our dog with parvovirus will last. In this article on our site we are going to explain what the disease consists of, since it is vital to detect it in time. We will also see the treatment that can be administered and, with all this data, we will be able to better understand how long a dog with parvovirus lives and why we cannot establish a period of time medium.
What is parvovirus?
This is a viral disease that is transmitted mainly by the fecal-oral route, that is, by contact between dogs and contaminated feces. The infected dog sheds the virus in its stool for several weeks. In addition, it can be transported on the legs, hair and any other object, since the virus has a high survival rate in the environment. It occurs acutely and is very contagious
The virus attacks cells that are reproducing, such as those lining the intestinal tract, and it is this destruction that is responsible for the clinical picture. Although parvovirus can affect any dog, puppies between 6 and 20 weeks of age The main symptoms of parvovirus are as follows:
- Anorexia: the animal stops eating.
- Lethargy: we will see the dog inactive and listless, without showing his usual behavior
- Fever usually appears.
- Vomiting: with a characteristic appearance and smell. They may contain blood.
- Diarrhea: profuse, hemorrhagic and/or mucosal. This fluid loss leads to rapid dehydration. In addition, the presence of blood is an indication of a worse prognosis.
- Abdominal pain that makes the dog hold his belly tight.
If we recognize any of these symptoms, we should immediately take our dog to the vet, since his life will depend on it, especially if it is a puppy. A quick action will influence the life expectancy of a dog with parvovirus. The veterinarian can use a rapid test that, in a matter of minutes, is capable of determining the presence or absence of this disease, although it must be known that it can give false negatives, so the treatment will be based on the symptoms. In addition, blood will be drawn to analyze and thus know the state and the affectation of the organism.
There is also a myocardial form of the virus that can cause sudden death.
Can a dog with parvovirus be saved?
Like any viral disease, there is no treatment that will eliminate parvovirus. Therefore, we can only offer the means of support that treat the symptoms and hope that these help the dog to fight and defeat the disease. How long the dog with parvo lasts will also depend on the chosen treatment and the time of its establishment. The treatment, which must be intensive, basically consists of the following:
- Fluidotherapy, to replace fluids and electrolytes that are being lost due to diarrhea and frequent vomiting and that the dog cannot replace on its own, since it is not eating or drinking.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics (able to eliminate various types of bacteria) to combat opportunistic bacterial infections that will take advantage of the weakness of the dog to make his appearance. With this measure we try to prevent the picture from getting complicated.
- Antiemetics to control vomiting.
- A blood transfusion may be necessary, since the disease causes considerable anemia.
- Parenteral nutrition because the dog will not be able to feed itself as long as the vomiting does not subside.
- All these measures require the hospitalization of the animal, at least initially, since intravenous administration of fluids and medication is necessary, since that, due to vomiting, it is not possible to offer it orally.
If the animal responds positively to treatment and the symptoms subside, it can fight the disease. Therefore, although it is a serious pathology that can compromise the life of our dog, categorically yes it is possible to save a dog with parvovirus
Canine parvovirus prevention as a method of salvation
In this section we will check the importance of preventive measures when it comes to avoiding, as much as possible, that our dog contracts parvovirus. In addition, these measures can also be decisive when it comes to answering the question at hand about the duration of a dog with parvovirus. These patterns that we can observe are the following:
- Vaccination respecting the recommended schedule. It is true that no vaccine offers 100% protection, but it is also true that a vaccinated animal, if infected, will pass the disease in a milder way or, in other words, increase its life expectancy.
- Disinfection with bleach for objects, a product that inactivates the virus.
- Isolation of puppies that have not completed their vaccination schedule, which means that they should be prevented from coming into contact with dogs whose immune status is unknown, as well as getting close to other dogs' droppings.
Although it may not seem relevant, the state of he alth of the dog prior to infection is key to guaranteeing an optimal response to treatment. If the animal has been properly vaccinated, dewormed and fed, the chances are higher that the dog with parvovirus will be saved.
Life expectancy of the dog with parvovirus
How long a dog with parvovirus lasts will depend on the different factors that we have been presenting in the previous sections, in addition to other aspects which we add below. In short, they are as follows:
- Speed when starting veterinary treatment, hence the importance of taking our dog to the clinic without delay at the first symptom.
- Adequacy of the chosen treatment, which should combine antibiotics and different fluids and support drugs.
- Vaccination, since a vaccinated animal will offer more resistance to the virus. For this reason, it is crucial to start the vaccines at 6-8 weeks and re-vaccinate promptly as many times as appropriate.
- Presence of blood, with more chances of surviving those animals in which there is no bleeding.
- Virulence of the virus strain attacking the dog, as some are more aggressive than others.
- The age of the dog at the time of infection also affects its life expectancy, with the youngest being most at risk.
- The immunological status of the dog will also determine its resistance. Obviously, if he is weakened from any other cause, it will be difficult to heal.
- If it is a puppy that is only a few weeks old, the state of immunity of its mother will also be decisive, since in these first weeks the puppy will be protected by maternal antibodies. This protection is temporary and therefore must be replaced by the one that the vaccines will give you.
As life expectancy is going to be influenced by many factors, it is impossible to give an answer to how long it takes for a dog to die with parvovirus. Likewise, as it is even possible that it overcomes the disease, it is even more complicated to give an approximate period of time, since each dog responds to treatment in a different way. Of course, if the animal recovers it can lead a normal life.
