Canine Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus....what a pain! Anyone who had to deal with this deadly disease know exactly what we mean. This terrible virus affect especially young puppies and is deadly to them on 95% of the time.

The first sign is vomiting and diarrhea. The evolution of this virus is so quick that sometime dog owner don't have much time to realize what is happening.

After a day or two the dog is still eating with appetite but continue to vomit it's food. After about 2 days, the sign gets worse and the dog start to vomit blood also. At this point it is very important to bring your dog at the veterinarian as the situation is critical. Today's veterinarian are more prepare to deal with this virus but it still kill around 80% of the young dogs.

Symptoms may vary from dog to dog but usually start with vomiting. If your dog eat with appetite or not and vomit it's food soon after you should bring it at the veterinarian as soon as possible. It may not be the parvovirus but it can be something serious, especially if there is also diarrhea.

Usually the puppy die in 5 to 7 days and since there is no effective medication against virus the puppy immune system will be it's only protection. Antibiotic can be given to prevent secondary infection and the puppy need to be put on life support system to make sure it does not get dehydrated.

This virus is very strong and resistant and is capable of living in the environment for up to 6 months and may be more. Fortunately there are some prevention methods that can save your dog's life. This prevention can range to limiting the risk as to been paranoid and avoid any possible source of contamination until the puppy is at least 6 months old. These measures are sometime extreme and you can decide what risk you are willing to take:

• Don't bring your dog for walk where other dogs have access until your puppy is 6 month old. The first contamination mode is when the puppy sniff the stool left by other dogs.

• Give your dog parvovirus vaccination every month until it is at least 5 month old, DO NOT stop the vaccination program at 2 or 3 month old as the mother's immunity passed to the puppy is still strong and fighting the first vaccination.

• When ever you bring your dog at the vet clinic try to keep your dog in your arms, don't let it walk free on the floor as you never know if a dog carrying the virus have been there. Remember that this virus has strong life and can remain in the environment very long.

• One good prevention is if your dog start to vomit for no apparent reason, you can take a stool sample and bring it to the veterinarian for analyses. The test usually take just couple of hours and is not expensive. This is much better than rushing your puppy to the vet and putting it with contagious animals.

The good news! After your puppy is 6 month old and has received all it's parvovirus shot, it should be well protected against this virus for the rest of it's life, as long as the parvovirus vaccination is giving each year. This virus affect mostly young puppy and even if your dog get contact with this virus as adult it is well protected and will not have any effect. This virus affect only puppies and older weak dog.

You don't have to fallow all these precautions but if you do you can be fairly sure your puppy will not have this disease.