Canine Parvovirus: A Serious Threat for Puppies and Young Dogs

During the course of the last few days, I’ve diagnosed several cases of canine parvovirus in my hospital. As a result, I thought this would be a good time to revisit this very serious disease and discuss the symptoms of canine parvovirus and cover some of the methods that can be used to help protect your dog or puppy against parvovirus.

All of the cases that I have diagnosed over the past few days have been puppies, which is typical of the disease. Canine parvovirus is most serious in puppies and young dogs, though mature dogs can be susceptible as well. In this part of the country (the Northeast), as well as many other areas, summer time is a common time of the year to see parvovirus. The disease can be seen at any time of the year, but I think in the warmer months, people are more likely to take puppies outside to play and explore. In my practice, we see parvovirus much more commonly during the warm months than we do during other times of the year.

What is Canine Parvovirus and How is it Spread?

Canine parvovirus is a viral disease that attacks the intestinal tract of an infected puppy or dog and effectively destroys the lining of the intestinal tract. The virus is passed in the feces of infected dogs and other dogs are exposed when they contact the infected feces.

Symptoms of Parvovirus in Dogs

The disease caused by canine parvovirus is often simply referred to as parvo. The symptoms most commonly seen in dogs infected with parvovirus are:

• diarrhea, often bloody and extremely runny (many of my clients describe it as “watery diarrhea that looks like blood”). There is frequently a characteristic foul odor associated with the diarrhea as well.
• vomiting
• depression, lethargy
• lack of appetite
• fever, although the temperature may actually fall below normal as the disease progresses and the puppy becomes weaker
• dehydration, which often becomes life-threatening and is fatal in many cases

Though the intestinal form of the disease is the most commonly seen, there is also a cardiac form that can be seen in very young puppies that causes inflammation and death of the cells in the heart muscle. This form is frequently fatal as well and dogs that do recover often have scarring of the heart muscle as a result.

Treatment of Parvo in Dogs and Puppies

There is no specific cure for canine parvovirus. Treatment is symptomatic and one of the most important facets of treatment is fluid therapy to combat dehydration. Blood or plasma transfusions may be recommended in some cases to replace lost proteins and fight anemia. Medications to aid in preventing vomiting and to control nausea are frequently used. Antibiotics are generally recommended to protect against secondary bacterial invasion of the damaged intestinal tract.

Preventing Parvovirus Infection in Puppies and Dogs

Vaccination is the key ingredient for preventing infection with parvovirus. Puppies should be started on vaccinations as early as 6-8 weeks of age and should receive booster vaccines every 3-4 weeks until they are at least 14-16 weeks of age. Your veterinarian can help you determine the best vaccination schedule for your puppy or adult dog.

Remember that your puppy may not be fully protected against canine parvovirus until he has reached an age of 4 months or older and has received all of his puppy vaccinations. While socialization is extremely important for puppies less than 3-4 months of age, it is important that efforts to socialize your puppy do not expose him to infectious diseases such as canine parvovirus. Any puppies or dogs your puppy is exposed to should be healthy, up-to-date on vaccinations, and free of parasites (both internal and external). It is advisable to avoid dog parks and other places that dogs with unknown health statuses frequent. Many pet care facilities now offer organized puppy play or puppy socialization classes that provide an excellent opportunity to socialize your young puppy while minimizing the risk of exposure to harmful diseases.

It is also important to keep yards and gardens free of feces, especially those belonging to other dogs. Remember that stray dogs that enter your yard or garden may be carrying parvovirus or other diseases to which your puppy (or adult dog) does not need to be exposed.

Are There Some Breeds of Dog that are More Likely to Become Infected with Parvovirus?

Yes, it does seem that some breeds may be more likely to become infected than others. Breeds such as Pit Bulls, Rottweillers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers seem to be more likely to become ill with parvovirus than other breeds. However, any breed of dog can be infected and can become ill with canine parvovirus.

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