One of the worst nightmares pet owners can experience is knowing that their dog has canine parvovirus. Canine parvovirus infection can have detrimental effects on a pooch’s health and wellness and even cause death when left untreated.
The canine parvovirus is no laughing matter, which is why it’s important for pet owners like you to learn more about the illness. The more educated you are about the parvo infection, the better chances your dog will have of surviving.
What is Parvo?
Parvo in older dogs is caused by the canine parvovirus. It’s a highly contagious viral illness that presents itself in either of the two forms: intestinal and cardiac. In general, the cardiac form is less common and usually attacks young puppies under eight weeks of age. When left untreated, this virus can lead to death. The intestinal form is more common and affects older puppies and adult dogs.
How Do Canines Get Parvo?
Dogs can get parvo by direct contact with an infected dog’s feces (your dog might sniff, lick, or consume the infected feces) or direct contact with an infected dog. In some cases, the virus can also spread through indirect transmission in many ways, such as when a dog encounters a contaminated object (owned by the infected dog) like collars, leashes, toys, and food bowls, and when another person who recently handled infected dogs touches your dog.
Aside from these, a mother diagnosed with parvo can also pass the virus to her litter. In cases like these, the puppies usually have a lesser survival rate as their immune systems aren’t fully developed to combat the virus.
Once the canine parvovirus enters the body, it goes to the lymph nodes located near a dog’s throat. The lymph nodes are part of a dog’s immune system and contain disease-fighting lymphocytes. The virus enters the bloodstream while being inside these lymphocytes. Over time, the lymphocytes infected by the virus will die.
As the canine parvovirus cruises in a dog’s bloodstream inside the lymphocytes, it starts to attack areas that produce cells, such as the bone marrow. The ability of the bone marrow to produce white blood cells will be impaired once it gets severely damaged due to the presence of the virus. As a result, the dog will have a lower white blood cell count, which can eventually weaken the immune system of the dog. This can put the dog at risk of secondary bacterial infections.
The canine parvovirus also attacks the small intestines of dogs. More specifically, the virus damages a dog’s intestinal crypts, which are areas of the small intestines that produce cells. This will adversely affect the dog’s ability to keep bad bacteria out and absorb nutrients from food.
In extreme cases, when the virus attacks a dog’s small intestines, protein and blood can leak out. This can trigger many health problems in dogs, namely severe diarrhea, dehydration, and widespread infection. There are also instances when the infection causes sepsis, a condition wherein the bacteria leak out from the dog’s intestines and enter the bloodstream.
Are Some Dogs More At Risk Of Getting The Virus?
Some dog breeds have a higher risk of canine parvovirus infection and show more severe symptoms once infected. These breeds are:
- American Staffordshire Terriers
- Doberman Pinschers
- English Springer Spaniels
- Rottweilers
What are The Most Common Signs Of Parvo?
Parvo symptoms can worsen quickly, especially for unvaccinated dogs. When left untreated, infected dogs become weaker and more prone to several health conditions.
If your dog shows any of the early signs of parvo, take them to the veterinarian immediately.
- Abdominal pain
- Bloody diarrhea
- Collapse
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Weakness
Most deaths occur within 48 hours after the onset of the parvo symptoms. The mortality rate of untreated cases is 90%, which means that the longer you keep your dog at home, the lesser their survival rate is. This is one of the reasons why it’s crucial to see a vet immediately once you notice your dog exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above.
Regardless of how “minor” you think these symptoms are, don’t take chances. As mentioned, the parvo virus can start damaging the lining of the small intestines of your dog and cause several health problems.
How Do Vets Diagnose Parvo?
The vet will diagnose parvo through the symptoms exhibited, blood tests, and a physical examination to determine the low white blood cell levels of the dog. Some vets might also run a fecal canine parvovirus ELISA test.
ELISA is an acronym for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that uses parvovirus antibodies to determine if parvo is present in your dog’s feces. A color change indicates that the antibodies successfully attached themselves to the virus, which means that your dog has parvo. This test is highly reliable and only takes about ten minutes.
Extremely sick dogs will be subject to additional tests to determine the severity of the illness. Additional blood work might be necessary to reveal elevated liver enzymes, white blood cell counts, and electrolyte imbalances. The vet might also recommend an abdominal x-ray to assess if there is any intestinal damage, fluid-filled intestinal segments, and intestinal obstructions inside your dog’s body.
How Can You Treat Parvo?
Unfortunately, parvo doesn’t have any cure. Your vet will only treat the symptoms of parvo to relieve your dog’s pain and discomfort and prevent the illness from getting worse.
Parvo-infected dogs are at risk of dehydration because of excessive diarrhea and vomiting. Infected dogs are also susceptible to developing secondary infections as the virus can weaken their immune system.
To combat dehydration, your vet will provide intravenous fluids to your fur baby to help them replenish the loss of protein, fluids, and electrolytes from their bodies. Your vet might also administer an antidiarrheal medication and supplemental medications to prevent your dog from vomiting.
As mentioned, the parvo virus can also lower your dog’s white blood cell count, resulting in a weaker immune system and a higher risk of secondary infections. This is a common concern among infected dogs because the virus can attack their intestinal walls, leaving their bodies open to infections.
In preventing secondary infections due to the parvo virus, your vet will also put your fur baby on an antibiotic for a couple of days or weeks. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria and preventing them from multiplying inside your dog’s body.
How Can You Prevent Parvo In Adult Dogs?
The canine parvovirus can affect your dog’s life in many ways, which is why you should prioritize protecting your fur baby from the illness. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent parvo in adult dogs, namely:
Give Your Dog The Canine Parvovirus Vaccine
The first and most crucial step in preventing parvo is vaccination, which is why you should ensure that your dog gets all the recommended vaccination from the vet. Generally, puppies under six weeks of age retain immunity from their vaccinated mother as their mother passes protective maternal antibodies through their milk. After, young puppies should receive courses of vaccination against parvo at 8, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age.
After the initial series of puppy vaccinations, dogs should receive a booster parvo vaccination after one year, then another every three years.
Unvaccinated dogs are still very vulnerable to getting and spreading the virus. Always use extreme caution when socializing your dog with other dogs and letting them roam in dog parks. If possible, spend less time in public areas and spend more time at home.
Disinfect Your House And Yard
To protect your dog from the indirect transmission of the parvo virus, prioritize disinfecting all the surfaces in your home and yard. You can easily kill the parvo virus by spraying diluted bleach (made with 1/2 cup bleach mixed with one gallon of water) to clean toys, hard floors, and food and water bowls. Always use detergent with bleach when laundering fabrics often used by your dog.
To clean your yard, hose down your deck and patio using the same solution. When letting your dog out in the yard, keep them away from areas that don’t receive too much sunlight. Just like other viruses, the parvo virus can thrive well in damp and shaded areas.
Visit The Vet Regularly
Making sure that your dog is safe from parvo isn’t a one-man show, so make sure that you don’t attempt to do everything on your own. When it comes to your dog’s health, your vet is your biggest ally. Visit them regularly for vaccine boosters and reach out to them once you suspect that your dog has the virus.
Knowledge Is Power
One of the most important responsibilities as a pet owner is to ensure that your dog is safe from the parvo virus. And while this task might seem challenging, it’s actually quite easy when you know what symptoms to look out for and what to do once your dog has the virus.
If you’re still unaware of the canine parvovirus, take note of all the information presented in this article. Being equipped with this information will help you keep your dog healthy!