Content
- What is canine parvovirus
- Symptoms of Parvovirus
- Transmission of parvovirus
- Canine Parvovirus in Humans
- Prevention of parvovirus
- Canine Parvovirus Treatment
- Diet for the dog infected with parvovirus
O canine parvovirus or parvovirus is a viral disease that mainly affects puppies, although it can affect any type of puppies even if they are vaccinated. There are many dogs that have been victims of this disease highly contagious and lethal.
Often, and due to ignorance, some tutors confuse the symptoms of the moron, which results in a wrong diagnosis. For this reason, if you live with a dog, we recommend that you continue reading this PeritoAnimal article to find out about the canine parvovirus, your symptoms and respective treatment.
What is canine parvovirus
O canine parvovirus was identified in 1978. Since then, the initial strain has been genetically varied, causing different manifestations of the virus that make its detection difficult.
It's a disease that mainly affects the intestines of all kinds of family members Canidae like dogs, wolves, coyotes, etc. Resistant to both physical and chemical factors, it has a very high survival rate in the environment. It prefers to settle in fast reproducing cells such as intestinal, immune system tissues or fetal tissues. In more severe cases, canine parvovirus can attack the heart muscle, causing sudden death.
Symptoms of Parvovirus
Parvovirus has a preference for genetic mutation, but detection of this virus is still possible through symptoms. The first symptoms of parvovirus are:
- Decreased appetite
- usually appear vomiting very serious
- The dog seems to be asleep, inactive or very tired
- may suffer from diarrhea abundant and bloody
- Fever
- Dehydration fast
- Weakness
- can enter shock due to loss of fluid
- O heart can get affected
In the face of any one or more of these symptoms, we recommend that you go as soon as possible to your vet trusted to examine your pet.
Transmission of parvovirus
It is very common for canine parvovirus to attack puppies under 6 months or adults who have not been vaccinated or dewormed. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of a regular visit to the veterinarian.
Although there are races more vulnerable to this type of virus, such as the German Shepherd, Doberman, Pitbull or Rottweiler, there are also factors that can make your dog more vulnerable to contracting viruses such as stress, intestinal parasites or the accumulation of dogs in the same place.
The virus evolves at breakneck speed, and is usually transmitted orally when the dog comes into contact with infected food, breast milk, feces or infected objects such as shoes. Some insects or rodents can be hosts to the parvo virus.
Dogs that are already infected will spread the virus by three weeks, even before they show any clinical symptoms of the disease, and once recovered, they will continue to transmit the virus for some time.
Canine Parvovirus in Humans
Many readers ask us if parvovirus catches in humans and the answer is no, the dog does not transmit canine parvovirus to humans.
Prevention of parvovirus
If you suspect that there are dogs infected with parvovirus near where you live and you fear for your dog's safety, we recommend that you follow some advice to prevent it:
- Strictly follow the vaccination advised by the veterinarian.
- Parasite your pet with the defined regularity.
- sanitize physically the dog.
- Sanitize the entire home environment regularly with bleach.
- keep food in one place rodent free.
- Regularly clean the dog's utensils, such as toys, food and water containers,...
- If your dog hasn't been vaccinated yet, don't let him go outside or be in contact with other dogs until this is done.
- Avoid contact with feces.
Canine Parvovirus Treatment
If your dog has indeed been infected with the virus, take him as soon as possible to the vet so that he can analyze the situation and diagnose the disease. O canine parvovirus treatment it will start as soon as possible and its main objectives are to combat symptoms such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, control of vomiting and diarrhea, etc.
There is no 100% effective treatment to fight parvovirus, veterinarians follow a series of treatments that in some cases give good results. Below are some of these steps:
- Rehydration of the dog with the dosed administration of the serum. It is common to use Ringer-Lactate for these cases. Combines with colloids and is applied intravenously.
- For heart or kidney problems, serum doses should be administered with great care as they are not always adequately tolerated.
- blood transfusions to compensate for blood loss in diarrhea.
- Once stabilized, the dog continues with a fluid maintenance, composed of sugars, basically together with potassium chloride.
- In certain cases it may also be necessary to administer potassium for your recovery.
- Use of antibiotics and antiemetics.
- Use of Tamiflu: The use of this medication is becoming more widespread due to its success in some cases. It should always be complemented with previous treatments, always following the veterinarian's indications.
In case you do not want your dog to remain hospitalized, your veterinarian can explain the appropriate doses and you can do it with the IV bags. Remember that your puppy cannot be in contact with other puppies as it could infect them. You should consult your veterinarian to monitor the progression and development of the patient's disease.
For correct elimination of the virus trail in the environment, use bleach and a mixture of ammonia and chlorine. We recommend that you get rid of all utensils including the bed, food containers and toys, replace them with new ones and sanitize the entire environment including the house and terrace or balcony. This is one of the treatments for canine parvovirus that must be followed without a doubt.
If you want to adopt a new canine member, wait at least 6 months even take it home. Parvo virus is very resistant and can last a long time in the environment, even after having sanitized the area in question. During this waiting time, find out about products that eliminate the trail at pet stores or the veterinary clinic. It is very important to seek advice from a professional before including another dog in your life, remember that your health is at stake.
Diet for the dog infected with parvovirus
If your furry companion has been diagnosed with canine parvovirus, it is important that you know what type of food is the most appropriate for your recovery to be faster and more comfortable, so here are some tips that certainly work as a form of treatment for canine parvovirus:
- Hydration: A key part of treating parvovirus is administering serum to minimize the effects of diarrhea and vomiting. Drink a lot of water will help in this hydration process. Sports drinks are also a good option as they provide the lost minerals. Change your dog's water at least twice a day, cleaning and freshening.
- avoid food: At least in the first 24 - 48 hours that's when the virus is especially viral. At most, you can give him homemade chicken broth that is fully strained and without salt or seasonings.
- Soft diet: From 48 hours onwards it is considered that the dog has already passed the most serious part of the disease, from then onwards it will be able to start consuming a soft diet. We recommend including: rice water, homemade chicken stock, white rice, soft canned food. Remember that should not season anything or add salt.
Once the puppy has recovered to health and whenever your veterinarian indicates, you can return to administer the usual food.
Now that you know everything about canine parvovirus, its symptoms and treatment, don't miss the following video where we tell you how to take care of a dog so that it lives longer:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Canine Parvovirus - Symptoms and Treatment, we recommend that you enter our section on Viral diseases.