What Is Parvo?
Parvo is a viral infection caused by a parvovirus pathogen. The virus typically infects the stomach and small intestine but prefers the small intestine. After the virus has been contracted, the virus will destroy the cells of the small intestine and disrupt the gut microbiome.
The disruption to the body’s gastro-intestinal tract will reduce your dog’s ability to absorb nutrients from their food. The infection typically results in vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.
While many people believe that parvo is a disease exclusive to puppies, adult and elderly dogs can also contract and be killed by it. The elderly and immunocompromised dogs are also at risk of severe complications from parvovirus. So, it’s best to be vigilantly aware of the signs and symptoms of parvo, regardless of your dog’s age.
Dog parents with multiple dogs will be especially vigilant about parvo infections, as the disease is highly contagious. One infected dog could quickly spread the virus to other dogs in the household.
Parvo also weakens the immune system, especially when contracted by puppies. In puppies, parvovirus can affect the bone marrow and lymphopoietic tissues responsible for creating white blood cells. Comorbid and secondary infections are common in dogs with parvovirus. So, ensure you keep your dog safely quarantined until it is no longer contagious.
Parvovirus is a disease that both cats and dogs can be vaccinated against. Keeping their vaccines up to date is the best way to protect them.
There is no specific drug designed to treat parvovirus. Therefore, medical management is necessary to diagnose the infection and further intervention will focus on alleviating the symptoms of the disease and bolstering the dog’s immune system to fight off the virus.
Early treatment of parvovirus is critical. When a dog is treated early, and the treatment plan is followed, survival rates are as high as 95%. However, delaying treatment reduces the chance of your dog surviving to as low as just 68%. Therefore, getting in touch with your vet if you think your dog has parvo is imperative.
Work with your veterinarian to develop a comprehensive treatment plan for alleviating your pet’s symptoms and nursing them back to health. Unfortunately, parvo is a difficult virus to kill in the environment. You’ll need to wash and disinfect all your puppy’s belongings thoroughly. If possible, replace whatever you can.
Additionally, you’ll need to be mindful of your contact with other dogs, including your own. Parvo is highly contagious. While cats can’t spread the disease to dogs, it can be spread from one infected dog to another via the hands and clothes of humans. Dogs are also capable of spreading the infection to cats. So, if you have a cat, you’ll want to keep them separate until your dog is no longer contagious.
What is Parvo?
Canine Parvovirus, most commonly known as simply Parvo, is a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease widely found among dogs. Puppies between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 months are the most at-risk for this illness, as they are not vaccinated or are only partially vaccinated. This illness can be fatal in puppies, so it is essential to keep your puppy away from potential risks until it is fully protected.
Cats, on the other hand, have their own strain of Parvovirus. This is most commonly called Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIE), Feline Panleukopenia (FP), or Feline Parvovirus. This disease is highly similar to Canine Parvovirus as it affects the intestinal tract. In cats, this also negatively affects the bone marrow and blood cells, significantly weakening the cat’s immune system. The similarities between Canine Parvo and Feline Parvo are strong, but they are still considered different diseases.
What happens if my puppy gets parvo virus? This not something you should attempt to treat at home. Usually, depending on the puppy’s immune system and vaccine status, it will require a hospital stay, which should be until the patient is not vomiting, having diarrhea, and the puppy’s appetite returns. It may require a day or two in the hospital or can be up to a week or two, depending on the immune status of the puppy, how quickly it was treated, what strain of the virus was contracted, and response to treatment.
Why Do I have to leave my pet in the hospital? Intravenous fluid therapy is one of the most important things we can do to save puppies affected with the virus. It doesn’t take long to die from shock from dehydration, and electrolyte disturbances. An IV (intravenous catheter) is placed and fluid therapy is started immediately to rehydrate the patient. There are often additions to the fluid therapy to correct low blood glucose, low potassium, and sodium. We give medication to control pain, anti-nausea medications, antibiotics to treat sepsis (bacterial invasion into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract), treat concurrent parasitic infections. We give medications to protect the lining of the stomach. In extreme instances, it is sometimes necessary to give a plasma transfusion. We perform a physical examination daily to be certain that there are not intussusceptions (when the small intestine telescopes into a section of itself, an emergency that requires surgery to fix). Medications that might normally be taken orally cannot be given to an animal that is vomiting. In these instances, the medications must be given into the bloodstream via an IV catheter.
Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease spread by the fecal material of affected animals. The virus infects the walls of the intestines, causing the interior lining of the intestines to slough. It is a serious disease and can be over 90% fatal if untreated. It causes vomiting, diarrhea (which is often bloody), lethargy (depression), pain, and life-threatening dehydration.
Prevention is the key. Parvovirus typically causes disease in puppies, but can infect any unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated dog. This means that if the vaccine was stored incorrectly or improperly refrigerated, it may not be effective against preventing disease. If the vaccine was given at the wrong time in the puppy’s life, improper intervals, or inadequate doses, the puppy may not be completely protected against the disease. This is one of the most important reasons to visit your veterinarian!
How will I know if my puppy has this disease? Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and lethargy are the hallmarks of the disease. In any incompletely vaccinated puppy, parvovirus is a consideration. We can easily diagnose this with an in hospital test and typically have the results within an hour.
Can Cats Get Parvo from Dogs
Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease spread by the fecal material of affected animals. The virus infects the walls of the intestines, causing the interior lining of the intestines to slough. It is a serious disease and can be over 90% fatal if untreated. It causes vomiting, diarrhea (which is often bloody), lethargy (depression), pain, and life-threatening dehydration.
Prevention is the key. Parvovirus typically causes disease in puppies, but can infect any unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated dog. This means that if the vaccine was stored incorrectly or improperly refrigerated, it may not be effective against preventing disease. If the vaccine was given at the wrong time in the puppy’s life, improper intervals, or inadequate doses, the puppy may not be completely protected against the disease. This is one of the most important reasons to visit your veterinarian!
We can talk to you about proper vaccination protocols. We can discuss with you how to protect your puppy from environments which may contain the virus. We can help you learn about disinfecting and virus containment in your home if you have had a dog recently infected with the virus.
Can my cat get Parvovirus? Yes, but it’s very unlikely. We vaccinate cats with the FVRCP vaccine to prevent this disease in cats. You never hear of a kitten having parvovirus because it is called something different in cats. It’s called the panleukopenia virus. Unvaccinated cats can contract the virus from dogs, but only under very extreme circumstances.
How will I know if my puppy has this disease? Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and lethargy are the hallmarks of the disease. In any incompletely vaccinated puppy, parvovirus is a consideration. We can easily diagnose this with an in hospital test and typically have the results within an hour.
What happens if my puppy gets parvo virus? This not something you should attempt to treat at home. Usually, depending on the puppy’s immune system and vaccine status, it will require a hospital stay, which should be until the patient is not vomiting, having diarrhea, and the puppy’s appetite returns. It may require a day or two in the hospital or can be up to a week or two, depending on the immune status of the puppy, how quickly it was treated, what strain of the virus was contracted, and response to treatment.
Why Do I have to leave my pet in the hospital? Intravenous fluid therapy is one of the most important things we can do to save puppies affected with the virus. It doesn’t take long to die from shock from dehydration, and electrolyte disturbances. An IV (intravenous catheter) is placed and fluid therapy is started immediately to rehydrate the patient. There are often additions to the fluid therapy to correct low blood glucose, low potassium, and sodium. We give medication to control pain, anti-nausea medications, antibiotics to treat sepsis (bacterial invasion into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract), treat concurrent parasitic infections. We give medications to protect the lining of the stomach. In extreme instances, it is sometimes necessary to give a plasma transfusion. We perform a physical examination daily to be certain that there are not intussusceptions (when the small intestine telescopes into a section of itself, an emergency that requires surgery to fix). Medications that might normally be taken orally cannot be given to an animal that is vomiting. In these instances, the medications must be given into the bloodstream via an IV catheter.