Canine parvovirus, commonly called parvo or canine parvo, is one of the most commonly diagnosed intestinal viruses seen in puppies. Parvovirus can infect dogs of any age, but puppies are usually more severely affected than more mature dogs.
Canine parvovirus is the disease responsible for the death of Oprah Winfrey's puppy in March, 2009.
Symptoms of Canine Parvovirus Infection
Parvovirus in dogs and puppies causes damage to the inside lining of the intestinal tract, essentially causing the inside lining of the intestinal tract to die. As the intestinal tract continues to be damaged and die off, bacteria can invade and cause massive secondary bacterial infection.
The most common form of canine parvovirus seen is the intestinal form of the disease. Symptoms most commonly seen with intestinal cases of parvovirus in dogs and puppies include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea, often bloody and foul smelling
- Lack of appetite
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Death
Dogs and puppies which recover from the intestinal form of parvovirus infection can, on rare occasions, develop the heart form of the disease. This usually occurs 3-6 months after recovery from the intestinal form of canine parvovirus and causes myositis (disease of the heart muscle). This form of canine parvovirus is almost always fatal.
Canine parvovirus infection is especially severe in puppies and the younger your puppy is when infected, the more severe the disease is likely to be.
Diagnosis of Parvovirus
Canine parvovirus is diagnosed based on clinical signs and a positive parvovirus antigen feces test. Your veterinarian may also need to perform additional blood tests (complete blood count and serum chemistry profile) to further evaluate your dog or puppy's physical condition. Radiographs (x-rays) are sometimes necessary to rule out intestinal foreign bodies and other causes of disease. In addition, your veterinarian may need to check your dog or puppy's feces for parasites.
Treatment of Parvovirus
The cornerstone of treatment for parvovirus is fluid therapy to battle dehydration and replace fluid losses resulting from vomiting and diarrhea. Your puppy or dog likely will need to be hospitalized in order to start him on proper fluid replacement therapy.
Additional treatments for parvovirus may include:
- antibiotics, such as cefoxitin, cefozolin, enrofloxicin, ampicillin, gentamicin, amikacin, chloramphenicol or trimethoprim-sulfa.
- anti-emetics to control nausea and vomiting, such as metoclopramide, maropitant, chlorpromazine or ondansetron.
- antacids to prevent the esophagus from becoming ulcerated while vomiting. Antacids include Tagamet, Zantac or Pepcid.
- Tamiflu
- Septi-serum or plasma transfusions
Prevention of Canine Parvovirus Infection
Vaccination against canine parvovirus will provide protection against the disease. However, in young puppies, maternal antibodies passed from mother to puppy can interfere with vaccinations and cause them to be ineffective. Though these maternal antibodies may provide some protection against disease to the puppy, it is impossible to tell when maternal antibodies will subside and leave the puppy susceptible to disease. For this reason, a series of vaccinations against parvovirus are usually given to puppies starting between 6 to 8 weeks of age and continuing every 2 to 4 weeks until the puppy reaches at least 14-16 weeks of age.
Until your puppy has reached 14-16 weeks of age and completed his vaccination series, it is advisable to prevent your puppy from contacting feces from other dogs or puppies. Stay away from dog parks and other areas where dogs and puppies tend to congregate and defecate until your puppy is fully protected. If your puppy is enrolled in puppy obedience classes, puppy socialization classes, puppy play sessions or other group sessions involving contact with other dogs, make sure that all dogs involved are up-to-date on vaccinations against canine parvovirus.
Vaccinations against parvovirus are usually recommended for adult dogs also. Your veterinarian will be best able to advise you whether your dog should be vaccinated yearly or every three years for parvovirus. This depends on the type of vaccine being administered, your dog's lifestyle and your dog's individual risk for parvovirus infection.
In summary, although canine parvovirus is a severe and often fatal disease, especially in puppies, parvovirus can usually be prevented through the use of proper vaccination.
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