Taking care of your dog isn’t just about making sure it eats healthy pet food and lots of love. It also involves ensuring they’re happy, in good shape, and protected against common diseases like canine parvovirus. Also known as parvo, it is a highly contagious disease that upsets the intestinal tract and causes havoc in dogs’ immune system.
Parvo is one of the most well-known canine diseases because of how severe and contagious it is, particularly for young, unvaccinated puppies. Parvo acts fast, so if your pup happens to pick it up, they’ll fall sick with painful symptoms soon. Here’s what you need to know about parvo and what you should do to protect your dog from it:
All About Parvo
Parvo started gaining recognition in the late ‘70s when thousands of puppies and young dogs unexpectedly fell sick with severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Pet owners quickly saw how contagious this new disease was and how rapidly it devastated dogs.
Dog owners must be extra careful with their unvaccinated pups, as parvo can remain in an infected environment for up to five years. It can infect dogs that enter the area even for a few moments, and these dogs can transmit it to other canines they encounter, which is how the disease managed to become widespread. The good news is that there are now effective vaccinations to control this disease.
Dogs More Susceptible to the Virus
The most significant factor in susceptibility to parvo in dogs is age. Puppies six weeks to six months are most susceptible, although it can still make any young unvaccinated dog sick. Some breeds have less immunity to the disease and experience more severe symptoms when infected with it. These breeds include German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers, and Springer Spaniels.
Parvo is most prevalent in July, August, and September. Dogs that live in a warm, tropical climate are at risk the entire year since the virus dies during colder weather.
Parvo Symptoms in Dogs
Since parvo targets the intestinal tract, the symptoms are typically gastrointestinal. These symptoms include diarrhea, typically bloody, vomiting, fever, weakness, lethargy, and not wanting to eat.
A dog infected with parvo becomes severely dehydrated since they lose fluids by vomiting and constantly defecating. They may also experience hypoglycemia or low blood sugar when they don’t eat. When the virus progresses, it severely damages the intestinal lining and causes a drastic drop in the white blood cell count, resulting in sepsis. Once they reach this stage, it is very difficult for them to recover.
Illnesses That Resemble Parvo
Severe diarrhea and vomiting are the most prominent symptoms of parvovirus, but these are also notable symptoms of other diseases. These include intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, which produce symptoms similar to parvovirus. Diet changes affect the weak stomach of a pup, although diarrhea or vomiting won’t be as severe. Stress and bacterial infections can also cause them to vomit and have loose stool.
Parvo Treatment
It is possible to treat parvo in dogs, although this highly depends on the disease’s severity. Your dog will need immediate vet treatment for any chance of survival, so be sure to bring them to a clinic as soon as possible.
The first thing a vet would treat is nausea, vomiting, and dehydration by administering IV fluids. They will also prescribe antibiotics and antidiarrheal medication to treat diarrhea and help the pup retain the fluids. They may also administer anti-nausea medications to stop the vomiting and allow the puppy to keep down the medications required to fight the virus.
When dogs survive parvovirus, their gut may have suffered extreme damage, so it will take time and a special diet to restore their gut health. Giving them a bland diet and probiotics can help fill the gut with healthy bacteria and put them on the road to recovery.
Parvo Prevention
Many vaccines can immunize your beloved pup against this deadly virus. Be sure to give your dog its first round of bundle vaccines and yearly boosters to keep its immunity up and protect it from the virus for the rest of its life.
Conclusion
Parvovirus has wreaked havoc on many dogs’ lives, favoring puppies and young dogs still building up their immune systems. By using our guide and vaccinating your dogs, your dog will stay healthy, happy, and parvo-free.
Wags to Wiskers is a holistic pet store in Chelsea, Ann Arbor, and Ludington selling healthy pet food and all the pet supplies you need to keep your pup entertained. We also have supplies for other pets. Visit us today to stock up on your pup’s favorite treats!