“Canine Parvovirus”

In this month’s article, we will discuss a very common virus that can be seen in dogs, known as ‘Parvovirus’. This virus can be quite a scare for many dog owners as it is a condition that can cause a very healthy puppy or dog to quickly become fatally ill within days. The bright side to this condition is that Parvovirus is a preventable disease.

There are vaccinations available that can allow your dog to be guarded from exposure, however it is then very important for pet owners to be fully aware of the risks and signs that one may see with Parvovirus, in order to steer away from it.

Parvovirus, being a very contagious virus, targets the gastrointestinal system of the dog and thus causes symptoms related to digestion. Once the puppy contracts the virus, it travels to the small intestines and replicates itself there, along with at the lymphopoietic tissues (lymph nodes, thymus, Peyer’s Patches, spleen, etc.) and bone marrow. This then leads to severe symptoms, such as: bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, anorexia, lethargy, dehydration, weight loss, weakness and depression. If you see any of the symptoms listed in your pet, it is highly recommended that you seek immediate professional medical attention by your local veterinarian.

A dog can get infected with Parvovirus by coming into contact with another infected dog. This can happen through the infected feces, considering that an infected dog can begin shedding the virus within a week from initial exposure. It is then noted that Parvovirus can be transmitted in two ways. The first method is through direct contact from the nose to mouth with contaminated feces. This can occur when the dog naturally tries to sniff the feces of another dog or licks it. This is a very common behavior of puppies as they are very curious to explore and learn new tastes and smells. The second way is through a more indirect approach, such as the virus surviving in the surround environment for contact, like human skin, equipment or even clothing. When a puppy comes into contact with their owner’s belongings that are infected, it can be exposed then to the virus. In this case, the best disinfectant to use towards eliminating Parvovirus, a very resilient virus, from objects, environment and people is bleach. A ratio of bleach to water of 1:32 is a standard recommended solution for disinfecting. Shedding of the virus will occur shortly after exposure, during the course of the illness and even up to a week after treatment has been administered. This all concludes to the fact that it is highly important that an accurate diagnosis be made for this virus and that strict quarantine should be practiced in order to stop further spread to other animals.

The most susceptible breeds to Parvovirus have been recorded as the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, American Staffordshire and English Springer Spaniel. There is not definite answer as to why these breeds are more prone than others; however, research has shown that the breeds listed above are more prevalent than others. The most affected age group is seen to be very young dogs that range in ages of six weeks old to six months old. At birth, puppies do receive antibodies from their mothers that help protect them from most illnesses, however with time this layer of protection fades and then it is up to the owner to decide upon vaccinations to keep the protection going.

Once your veterinarian has officially diagnosed your dog with Parvovirus with conducted blood tests, fecal samples and possible radiographs; treatment can take its course. The sooner this condition is treated, the more beneficial for your puppy. It will be recommended to hospitalize your pet and keep them in the isolation ward of the clinic, in order to prevent further spread to other patients. Rehydration will also be a key component towards the treatment plan, as your puppy would have lost a lot of body fluids due to the constant diarrhoea and vomiting. At this time, supportive care and monitoring your pet will be of the utmost importance towards treatment. If your pet is in a more severely detrimental state, then your veterinarian may also prescribe certain helpful medications and antibiotics to counteract the infection. Dogs that are able to survive this virus are then blessed with lifelong immunity to it. Prevention is handled through vaccination options. There is a modified live vaccine available to be given to your puppy at the age of 6-8 weeks old. It is then repeated at the ages of 10-12 weeks old and then 14-16 weeks old. After these 3 sets, it is then an annual booster shot given at the age of 1 years old and repeated every 3 years onwards. An inactivated vaccination is also available to only be given to pregnant dogs and colostrum deprived puppies.

Understanding this condition is very important for every owner so that the correct prevention methods can be applied at the right timings. Knowing the risks that this virus brings with its infection can help inform owners on how to identify when your dog is compromised and the most effective action you can take towards helping them, which is seeking immediate medical care.