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Parvo in Puppies
Parvo in Puppies - What Exactly is Parvo?
Dog parvo, or canine parvovirus (CPV), is a viral disease that is highly contagious and can spread quickly to dogs that are not immune from the disease. The current strain
of parvovirus (CPV2) was discovered in 1978, and within 2 years had spread all over the world.
Parvovirus can affect dogs, wolves and foxes; but it cannot infect other animals and cannot be spread from dogs to humans. However, other animals and humans can pass the
virus onto dogs.
Parvovirus affects mainly puppies and younger dogs. (However, older dogs can catch the parvo virus as well.) Puppies between weaning and up to six months of age are the
most at risk. Once a puppy is infected, he has a 50-50 chance of survival - even with medical treatment. The critical period is the first four days of infection. If
timely treatment and care is given to an infected puppy, and if the puppy can get past the first four days, he will probably live and become immune to the virus. If
the puppy is left untreated, dog parvo can kill him in 2 to 3 days.
Recovery from the disease depends on the virulence of the strain, the amount of virus ingested, and the breed. For some reason, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Pit
Bulls, Labrador Retrievers and Rottweilers, as well as other black and tan breeds seem to be particularly prone to getting parvo. Even worse, these breeds seem to succumb
to the virus faster than other breeds and they seem to have a lower chance of recovery.
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Parvo in Puppies - How is Parvo Spread?The canine parvo virus is carried by dogs. Adult dogs may be infected without showing any clinical signs - they merely act as carriers. Infected dogs shed the virus (mainly in their stools and vomit) in massive amounts during the two weeks following exposure, contaminating yards, playgrounds, and other places where dogs frequent. In addition, canine parvo can be passed from yard to yard by birds carrying the virus on their feet or by people carrying the virus on clothing or shoes. Unlike the distemper virus, the canine parvo virus is not enveloped in fat, which means it is especially hardy in the environment and extremely hard to kill. The virus is also shed in large amount by infected dogs. (One ounce of feces can carry millions of particles of the virus!) A dog can therefore get infected by the parvo virus virtually anywhere, although it is easier to pick up an infection in an area where an infected dog has been present simply because of the larger amounts of virus present in a contaminated area. Whether an individual dog gets infected or not depends primarily on several factors, namely:
Forms of Canine Parvovirus
There are two forms of Canine Parvovirus: intestinal and cardiac.
Intestinal Parvo
Intestinal parvo (known as enteritisis) is the most common of the dog parvo virus. Dogs are infected through oral contact with the parvovirus that is found in contaminated
feces or soil. Once the dog has contacted the virus, it replicates in the lymphoid tissue in the throat, and then moves to the bloodstream. It then attacks cells in the
intestines, lymph nodes and bone marrow.
Cardiac Parvo
This is less common and affects mainly very young puppies, infected either in the womb (from their mother who is not vaccinated against parvo), or within the first 8 weeks
of life. Cardiac parvo causes myocarditis (inflammation of the heart and damage of the heart muscle). The cardiac parvo symptoms are sparse and can come on rather rapidly.
Usually, a puppy with cardia parvo will have breathing difficulties, followed by congestive heart failure, and sudden death.
Those puppies that manage to survive cardiac parvo often end up with some form of heart problems and die young.
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Parvo in Puppies - DiagnosisBecause of the common symptoms of GI disorders (vomiting, diarrhea), many sick puppies are misdiagnosed as having been infected with parvo. Of course, not all cases of bloody diarrhea and vomiting are caused by parvo in puppies. Diagnostic tests for parvo are necessary to ascertain whether a puppy in fact has parvo or not. The tests include: Complete Blood Count (CBC): Dogs with parvo typically have very few white blood cells. Although this alone cannot firm parvo, it shows high possibility nonetheless. Clinical Signs: Dogs with parvoviral enteritis typically have vomiting and diarrhea which usually is severe. Lymph nodes may be enlarged and the dog may have a fever. Fecal Antigen Test: If the dog has the virus in its feces, the test should be positive.Related Topics Parvo Symptoms Parvo Treatment References D. Hamilton, Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs (North Atlantic Books, 1999). R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000). Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005). M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999). TOP of Parvo in Puppies |
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