Parvo--What Is It? What Can You Do About It?

The Word Parvo strikes terror into the hearts of dog owners and kennel owners alike, and with good reason. There's no cure. The best we can do is treat the symptoms, keep the dog stable and alive until the virus runs it course. Arming yourself with knowledge, taking preventative measures is invaluable.

What is Parvo? Simply put, it's a virus. It affects dogs, but puppies are much more vulnerable to the disease than adult dogs, because of their immature immune system. This is a virus that love areas where there are rapidly dividing cells. In a puppy, this would be primarily the intestinal tract. This area has the largest concentration of rapidly dividing cells. The white blood cells is another area of rapidly dividing cells. The virus attacks and kills these cells in the intestinal tract causing diarrhea (often bloody) and suppresses the white cells, which are primarily defense cells. In very young pups, the virus can attack or infect the heart muscles which can cause 'sudden' death. Sudden because otherwise the pup appears healthy.

Symptoms of Parvo. Symptoms can begin with a high fever (although not always), listlessness—they aren't as active, their eyes which normally bright with curiosity and mischief, are dull, depression, and loss of appetite. Because the virus tends to attack the lining of the digestive system, it interferes with the body's ability to absorb nutrients, and liquids. The body's normal defense to viruses is increase the body's temperature (fever), and loosen the bowels to expel the virus (diarrhea). This, of course, leads to dehydration. If the body can't hold down liquids, or loses liquids quicker than intaking them, death follows rather quickly. Which is why immediate treatment is needed.

Treatment of Parvo. Most important to realize: there is no cure for Parvo. However, if caught quickly enough, the pup has a 50/50 chance to recover. If the pup makes it through the first three or four days, then usually, they can make a rapid recovery within a week after the danger zone. Provided there are no other health problems.

All the Vet can do is treat the symptoms. They do this by keeping the body hydrated—either by intravenous methods, or sub-cutaneously (injecting a pocket of Lactated Ringer's solution under the cape area on the shoulders). Also administered is antibiotics to fight off secondary infections since the body's defenses are all centered on repelling the virus and anti vomiting meds. In young pups, maintaining blood sugars are also important and that can be handled intravenously as well. Another concern is the fact that the virus can attack the heart causing congestive heart problems that can affect the surviving pup later in life. This is not always the case, but it can happen.

How do Dog get Parvo? Canine Parvovirus is carried by dogs. Your cat can't get it, nor do people. The virus is very hardy which why it's vital to clean the infected areas thoroughly. A dog or pup with Parvo sheds the virus in the stool or diarrhea. This virus can stay in the ground in those areas up to 9 months unless treated. Which is why moving to a new home where dogs have been it's wise to use a chlorine bleach solution on the yard. Better to damage the grass then kill your dog or pup. Of course the best thing is to have all your pets properly vaccinated—and keep them current.

This is a highly contagious virus to unprotected dogs. Don't think your puppy is safe simply because they've had a couple rounds of Parvo vaccinations, not true. Puppies—even with early vaccinations starting at 6 weeks of age (as recommended by Veterinarians) and are given every two or three weeks until they're at least 16 weeks old, but preferably, 20 weeks—are still susceptible to the virus until they've received the last round and even then, it's recommended you wait two additional weeks before exposing them to new environments.

Incubation is 7 to 10 days from the time of exposure for puppies to start showing the signs of the virus and test positive for Parvovirus. Again, immediate intervention is vital. With intensive treatment—giving fluids, regulating electrolytes, and controlling body temperature, you have a 50/50 chance your pup will survive. Better to have your vet tell you, no it's not Parvo it's coccidia, or an upset tummy because it ate something that didn't disagree with it than to have Parvovirus and not act on it. To me, the cost of an office visit with my Vet is worth the peace of mind.

Parvovirus is not airborne, as some will try to tell you. Parvo can happen to your dog or puppies even if they never leave their yard. It can be brought home to your dog via shoes, hands, even car tires. Why? Because it is a very hardy, hard to kill, virus. To put it crudely, the virus comes from an infected dog who pooped somewhere and you stepped in it, drove over it, sat in the grass in the park where he might have gone although there isn't a sign that he did and brought it home.. See? That easy. Not a problem if your adult dog has had all his vaccinations and is current with them. More problematic if you have a new puppy that has only had two or three rounds of vaccinations before you got them, but haven't yet received all of the vaccinations as yet. If you think you might have come into contact with Parvovirus, a strong solution of chlorine bleach and water does kill the virus. So wash your hands, your clothes and shoes, the car tires with the solution (one ounce bleach to a quart of water) to reduce the risk to your animal.

Prevention. The best way to avoid Parvovirus is to have your dog and puppies properly immunized, which begins when the pup is 6 weeks old. Follow the schedule with your Veterinarian. I can't stress that enough. Additionally, your puppy is cute. You want to show it off.  Don't.  Puppies should not socialize with other dogs away from home or be in areas frequented by other dogs until 2 weeks after they have finished their shots and vaccinations. Again, better safe than sorry. Most Parvo shots come combined with distemper and other potentially fatal canine diseases.

If your dog comes into contact with Parvovirus there are a few things to remember (as per instructions from my wonderful Veterinarian):

Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease. But there is a 50/50 chance for survival. The best prevention is adhering to regular immunization schedule, limiting socialization with other dogs as a young pup, and yearly boosters. Just as with children, immunizations are vital for good health and long life.

A few things to keep in mind. If you are shopping for a Pet, please share with each kennel owner you visit, the information of other kennels you've visited that day or that week. Don't be offended if they take precautionary steps like not letting you visit the whelping areas, or handle dogs or pups until you've washed your hands, disinfected your shoes, or wait for them to bring the animals to you. Trust me, we don't want a Parvo outbreak. We want you to be happy with your healthy pup and we want our pups to also remain healthy as well. Nothing is more heartbreaking than to lose puppies to Parvovirus.

© Sia McKye 2008 all rights reserved