Canine Parvo Virus

Intravenous fluids in a puppy

Parvo Virus is an acute (sudden onset with rapid progression and short duration of symptoms, in urgent need of care) virus that affects dogs, mainly puppies.

Because it is such a serious illness, by the time owners observe the onset of symptoms, there is already just a small window of opportunity to administer treatment to try to save a pup's life.

There is no cure for the parvo virus. As such, treatment relies on supportive care while the puppy's body goes through the devastating effects of the virus.

The most telling sign of parvo virus infection is the foetid (extremely unpleasant smell) watery, bloody diarrhoea. The presence of the blood is due to the damage that the virus causes to the gut lining. Often times the virus affects the gut lining so badly that "chunks" of flesh may be expelled with the diarrhoea. Other early symptoms include decrease in appetite, unwillingness to drink water, general lethargy (puppy appears quieter than normal, reluctant to play or run around, lying down a lot of the time). The puppy may also develop vomitting.

Proper care includes intravenous fluids, since drinking water is not enough to counteract the dehydration caused by the vomitting and/or diarrhoea. A puppy may also be given antibiotics to combat secondary bacterial infections. PLEASE NOTE that the antibiotics does not kill the parvo virus, it just kills bacteria that set up secondary infections, complicating the symptoms and lessening the puppy's likelihood of recovery.

Adult dogs may contract a milder strain of the virus, but this is so mild that sometimes symptoms are missed.

The virus is most severe in unvaccinated puppies, especially around 6-8 weeks of age and 3-4 months of age. In these cases the virus develops so rapidly and so severely that a high percentage of puppies die, even if given the appropriate treatment.

Owners of puppies must then be aware that while treatment must be given as soon as the pup appears to be sick, it is still not a guarantee that the puppy will live.

Each case is so different that even an experienced vet cannot predict the outcome of your puppy's illness. Sometimes, the puppy appears bright and very responsive and still dies overnight! Other times the puppy gets very sick and lethargic, almost unresponsive and over time steadily improves and recovers.

Please note then that after medical treatment is sought, it is a waiting game to monitor the progress of the puppy and decide when treatment may be stopped.

Parvo virus lives in the environment for a long time and may only be killed with bleach. It is important, then, for you to use diluted bleach to clean any and everywhere your puppy stayed while sick.

Since parvo virus is so deadly, it is much easier to try to prevent it. Here are some tips:

(1) until a puppy is vaccinated, do not let him/her roam the yard. Let him/her stay in a kennel away from other dogs or puppies.

(2) clean your puppy's kennel/enclosure with diluted bleach once or twice daily.

(3) start vaccinating your puppy at 6 weeks of age.

(4) follow your vet's vaccination plan by bringing in your puppy for vaccines on time, every 3 weeks for a total of 4 (for most breeds) or 5 (for rotts, german shepherds, dobermans and any mixes of these breeds) times.

I hope that this was useful. Please feel free to contact us for further information at 474-9750 or 693-1721... or leave your comments here. Here's to preventing parvo virus and helping keep our puppies healthy :)