Due to a recent uptick in unvaccinated puppies and parvovirus, I'd like to discuss this serious disease and some tips and tricks to help avoid it with you today.
What is Canine Parvovirus?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) "Canine parvovirus infection is a highly contagious disease caused by canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). There are several strains of CPV-2, and all produce similar signs. The disease they cause is commonly called “parvo.”" It affects puppies and incompletely vaccinated or unvaccinated adult dogs.
What are the symptoms?
Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and fever or low body temperature. Symptoms of nausea can also include not wanting to eat and excessive drooling.
How does it spread?
Parvo is extremely contagious and is spread through contact with feces, infected animals and contaminated surfaces. The virus can live in the dirt, feces and affected area for long after the animal has overcome the virus. Dogs with parvo should be quarantined away from other animals in the home and a strict cleaning and disinfecting regimen should be used on the area and humans caring for the sick dog.
How is it diagnosed?
A fecal test is the most accurate way to diagnose, but your veterinarian may suspect parvo based on clinical symptoms and vaccine history and opt to treat without a test.
How is parvo treated?
There is no "magic" cure for parvo as it is a viral infection and not a bacterial infection. Antibiotics do not help unless the animal has some sort of secondary bacterial infection as well, and in that case the antibiotics would not help with treating the parvovirus infection itself. Parvo treatments include supportive care to help mitigate the vomiting and diarrhea, fluids to help with dehydration, and nutrition care like palatable digestive care foods. Often this results in expensive and intensive care either quarantined at home or in more severe cases at a veterinary hospital that has the facilities to isolate and quarantine the sick animal. Sometimes the dog may die despite the best efforts of veterinary staff and owners.
So, what can you do?
The best treatment for parvovirus is prevention. In this case, promptly and routinely vaccinating your puppies and adult dogs for parvo. This is most usually given as a combination vaccine including other diseases like distemper and leptospirosis among others. Puppies should be given their first round of the vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age and then every 3-4 weeks afterwards until they are past 15 weeks of age. An annual booster is recommended until they are 6 years of age at which time they may get a booster every 2 years instead.
Dogs older than 15 weeks of age that have not been vaccinated or have an unknown history should be vaccinated twice 3-4 weeks apart and given an annual booster the following year. If your adult dog is overdue or missing vaccinations it is not too late! Contact us at 307-436-8313 and we will be more than happy to catch them up on all of their vaccinations.
Other tips and tricks:
The AVMA also recommends the following practices to make sure that your dogs stay happy and healthy:
Until the initial vaccination series is complete, use caution when bringing puppies to places where dogs gather. This includes pet shops, parks, puppy and obedience classes, doggy day cares, kennels, and groomers.
Choose establishments and training programs that require up-to-date vaccinations, health examinations, good hygiene, and isolation of sick puppies and dogs.
Keep your dog away from other dogs when sick, including other dogs within your home.
Avoid contact with known infected dogs and their premises.
Keep your dog away from other dogs’ feces.
Routinely collect and properly dispose of your dog’s feces.
If you’ve been in contact with dogs with or exposed to parvovirus, avoid handling other dogs, or wash your hands and change your clothes before doing so.
Parvovirus is pretty scary and serious, but if you stay up on being cautious with your new puppies and adult dogs and make sure to get them vaccinated on the correct schedule they should be able to live a happy parvo-free life!
Until next time, Happy Vaccinating!
Milo
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