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The canine parvovirus is the most common and very serious infectious disease of dogs in the United States. Canine parvovirus causes ulcerative enteritis and diarrhea in susceptible dogs. This diarrhea can be bloody and life threatening. The survival rate in veterinary care is 50%.

The Parvo Virus

The very resistant virus lives for long periods of time on floors, food containers and other household objects. Rugs are especially difficult to sanitize. The virus can be inactivated, with ordinary household bleach used at a concentration of one part bleach to twenty parts water. Exposure to sunshine also kills the virus.

Although it takes one or two weeks for the dog to develop signs of disease, the virus is shed in the feces from the third day of exposure onward.

The Symptoms

Parvovirus disease is remarkable in that symptoms can vary from none at all to a fatal disease. Four factors govern the severity of the disease:

1.Age at exposure

2.Size of the virus dose

3.Presence of maternal antibody

4.Breed of dog involved

Dogs over six month of age develop natural resistance to the effects of parvovirus. By the time the dog reaches one or two years of age the disease can be so mild that it passes unnoticed by the owners.

The most common form of parvovirus infection is a sudden acute inflammation of the small intestine or enteritis. This is characterized by depression, vomiting, diarrhea and profound dehydration. Bloody stools and a drop in white blood cell numbers are common. Some puppies die as soon as diarrhea occurs but many linger on for 4-6 days. Those that survive eight days usually recover. The lack of white blood cells and ulceration of the lining of the small intestine lead to secondary bacterial infections.

Treatment

Treatment of parvovirus is directed at correcting the life-threatening dehydration that accompanies the diarrhea with intravenous fluids (lactated ringers solution with bicarbonate). We also give medicines that relax intestinal spasms.

Besides this, the dogs are placed on antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infection through the damaged small intestine. Some veterinarians give the dogs medicine to relieve the severe abdominal pain that accompanies this disease. Dogs and puppies that begin to accept small portions of food invariably are on the road to recovery. Wagging their tail is also a good sign. Despite all my efforts, many young dogs with parvo do not survive.

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