Parvovirus in Dogs
Learn About this Potentially Fatal Disease
Sep 18, 2008 Elizabeth Skoglund
Parvovirus is seen most commonly in young, unvaccinated dogs under 6 months old, especially in puppies between 6 and 20 weeks old. Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and German Shepherds are suspected to be more susceptible to Parvo then other dogs, but the virus can infect any breed. Parvovirus is shed in feces and spread to other dogs through the ingestion of viral particles. It is estimated that 1 gram of feces contains enough virus to infect 10 million dogs. Parvo is extremely hardy and is able to survive in the environment for 5-7 months. (Humm & Dez, 2009)
Canine Parvovirus disables the body’s immune system, by causing bone marrow suppression. Because bone marrow is where white blood cells are formed, this leads to a low white blood cell count and a weakened immune system unable to fight off other infections.
Symptoms of Parvo appear approximately 4-10 days after infection and include:
- vomiting and diarrhea, often with a distinctive foul odor
- loss of appetite
- fever
- lethargy
- dehydration
As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhea often become bloody and the dog begins to show signs of shock. These signs include:
- pale mucous membranes and prolonged capillary refill time
- a low body temperature and cold extremities
- difficulty breathing
- death
Parvo can also cause myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle. This may result in congestive heart failure or fluid in the lungs. Both of these conditions are debilitating and potentially fatal to the dog. (Humm & Dez, 2009)
Typically Canine parvovirus is diagnosed by running an antigen test, which detects Parvo shed in the dog’s feces. The test however, may produce a false negative result if the test is run before viral particles are shed or if the levels of antigen in the feces are too low to be detected.
Because Parvo is a virus, treatment for the disease is aimed at supporting the body’s immune system until it recovers enough to fight off the virus. Small Animal Critical Care Medicine recommends the following treatment: Mild cases of Canine parvovirus may be treated with fluids given under the skin and antibiotics, but typically the dog needs to be hospitalized on intravenous fluids to correct dehydration caused by the vomiting and diarrhea. The fluids also help to correct any blood abnormalities and may include dextrose to increase the blood glucose, and a potassium supplement. Plasma, hetastarch and intravenous nutrition are also recommended depending on the animal’s condition. Treatment also includes antibiotics to help prevent secondary infections, anti-vomiting medications, GI-protectants, and pain medication as needed.
The best prevention against Canine parvovirus is vaccination, which is highly effective. Current guidelines recommend vaccinating puppies starting at 6 to 8 weeks old and boostering the vaccine until the puppy is 16-20 weeks old. The vaccine is then boostered according to guidelines, which may range from yearly to every three years depending on the vaccination used.
When a dog has been successfully treated for parvo, it is important to keep it isolated from other dogs, especially unvaccinated dogs. An infected dog can shed the virus in its feces up to 39 days post infection, so it is important to carefully dispose of waste and disenfect the dog's enviorment with bleach. With prompt and aggressive treatment, dogs have a good chance at recovering from Canine Parvovirus. Small Animal Critical Care Medicine estimates survival rates up to 92%.
Works Cited
Humm, K. R., & Dez, H. (2009). Canine Parvovirus Infection. In K. Hopper, & D. C. Silverstein, Small Animal Critical Care Medicine (pp. 482-485). St. Louis: Saunders.
Parvo is most common in puppies
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