Content
- Symptoms and Conditions of Parvovirus in Puppies
- What should you do if your puppy has parvovirus?
- home care
Parvovirus is a contagious viral disease, very dangerous for dogs, especially for puppies that come into the world without any protection, that is, without vaccinations or obtaining colostrum. Although it is a common condition, it can be deadly if not detected and treated in less than 48 hours.
Puppies are more likely to contract viruses and diseases as their immune system is still in full development and cannot defend itself properly. Parvovirus attacks some key cells of the reproductive digestive system, so it can cause diarrhea, vomiting and even depression in the animal.
We invite you to read this article by PeritoAnimal, because if you have or are thinking of taking a puppy home, it is important to have all the necessary information about this disease, as well as to know its care, so that in case your dog starts to show any symptoms you can anticipate and fight the parvovirus in newborn puppies.
Symptoms and Conditions of Parvovirus in Puppies
This is a virus that occurs more in puppies than in adult puppies. It does not allow the cells to grow, so the organs do not form correctly, thus hindering the healthy development of the animal. The digestive system reacts to all these aggressions and that is why they cause following symptoms:
- Fever
- vomiting
- Apathy
- severe diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- extreme weakness
- loss of motor control
- Lameness
- lack of stability
Parvovirus is transmitted by contact with blood, feces or vomiting from other dogs that are already infected. It also happens if they become infected from contaminated soil or environments. The best way to prevent this nasty disease is by vaccinating the puppy.
Just like us when we are babies, dogs when they are puppies cannot express feelings of pain or all the discomfort that a disease can cause. It's fundamental pay attention to the state of the animal and learn to differentiate the behavior of a healthy litter from a sick litter, in order to detect in time the presence of parvovirus in its organism.
What should you do if your puppy has parvovirus?
If your puppy has parvovirus, you have to prepare because you will have to take care of it and be depending on it practically every day. 24 hours a day for at least a week. It's not a very pleasant disease, but with the necessary care, a lot of dedication and love, the puppy can survive and come out of a battle like this well.
As soon as you see that your dog has this nasty, explosive blood-smelling diarrhea, should go to the veterinarian immediately. The doctor will treat the disease with antibiotics and thus be able to stop the progress of the infection. He will also give you some medication to soothe painful intestinal spasms.
After that, if the disease is at an advanced stage, the puppy will have to be hospitalized. If, on the contrary, parvovirus is starting, the dog can be treated at home.
home care
Prepare a space to carry out the treatment and disinfect it. should be always clean and away from possible bacteria. You are likely to vomit and defecate several times, so cleanliness will be essential.
The puppy has to feel comfortable and keep warm. Don't leave him alone, your friend will need your company more than ever. Lonely, cold spaces where the dog may be stressed often worsen the illness and delay improvement. Let him sleep and rest as much as he likes, talk to him calmly and gently, and avoid jolts.
One of the most important things when you have a puppy that suffers from parvovirus is keep you hydrated. You can use Pedialyte, serum or some fluid with electrolytes, which you should give carefully with a needleless syringe or a very small spoon. Appropriate amounts will depend on the size of the dog. Try to give it at least 2 tablespoons every 45 minutes if it's a medium-sized puppy, if it's a very small one, scale it down a bit.
You can give him a little ice to lick, this will help with hydration, will relieve nausea and stomach pain. It is normal to vomit at first, wait a while and try again. Never forget that throughout this process your puppy feels very bad internally. Pay attention to the instructions the doctor gives you, don't try to medicate your puppy without first consulting your veterinarian.
When your puppy starts to improve, feeding will be the foundation of his complete recovery. Pay attention to her diet and give her very small amounts of baby food to eat. Continue with hydration and invite him to drink little by little more water. You can feed it 24 hours after your last vomiting, this way you will allow the bowel to heal completely.
Follow all these instructions and the indications that the veterinarian indicates and you will see how in a short time your puppy will be completely healthy and ready to play!
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.