Canine Parvovirus

Canine Parvovirus, is a viral disease that attacks dogs and if left untreated, it kills them within day's, primarily due to dehydration.

Canine parvovirus is caused by a virus present in the feces from infected dogs. Dogs pick up the parvo virus through eating food off the ground, chewing bones on the dirt, licking each other etc... there's so much parvo virus in the environment that all older dogs are somewhat immune to it, however puppies are extremely susceptible, especially from around weaning age at 5 to 8 weeks.

Symptoms

Canine parvovirus symptoms are severe depression and a loss of appetite, followed by a high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration

The diarrhea will usually be bloody within 24 hours. Puppies infected with parvo usually die within 48 hours, if left untreated.

The virus initially lodges and multiplys in the lymph nodes of the throat and in 3 or 4 days it spreads to the bone marrow and gastro-intestinal tract. Both contain rapidly multiplying cells, which is what the virus needs. In the bone marrow it kills the young immune system cells, and as such a low white cell count is the first clinical sign of possible parvo virus infection. Having a low white cell count also means that the host dog cannot fight the infection.

Simultaneously the parvo virus is attacking the gastro intestinal tract, killing the new cells of the intestine walls before they have a chance to grow. The result is an inability to absorb nutrient, causing acute diarrhea. The intestinal wall becomes so damaged that bleeding occurs, allowing bacterial infection to occur.

So parvo puppies can die from either severe dehydration and shock, or bacterial infection... or more commonly,both.

Treatment

Antibiotics won't kill canine parvovirus. But antibiotics are routinely given to help prevent secondary bacterial infections while the dog's immune system is fighting the virus.

The best treatment for parvo virus is prevention. And the best form of prevention is Vaccinating, which should be mandatory for all puppies before they are 3 months old. Follow up every 12 months with a booster shot.

Pregnant brood bitches should be vaccinated with a killed parvovirus vaccine either before mating, or 2 weeks before her puppies are born. This will pass on protection to the puppies until they are about 6 weeks old, or until they stop suckling. The danger period for puppies is between weaning and 3 months of age, when they routinely get their full shots.

In intensive breeding situations, like dog farms and breeding barns, it is advisable to give puppies a 3 in 1 shot that includes parvo virus and corona virus vaccines at about 7 weeks, followed by their full 5 in 1 shot at 3 months of age.

The only way to kill parvo virus in the environment is with either Bleach diluted 30 to 1 with water, or some other proprietary brand containing bleach. Left to it's own recourses the virus will die in the ground in around 7 months, but leaving contaminated dog yards vacant for 12 months is safer. Freezing protects parvo virus cells, so if the affected area is covered in snow in winter, it may be 2 years before it is safe to have puppies on it again.