How Much Does Parvo Treatment Cost?
The cost of treatment can vary greatly based on the severity of the illness, length of the hospital stay, and location of the veterinary clinic.
Costs could start around several hundred dollars for outpatient treatment and go up to several thousand dollars for a severe case with hospitalization. On average, expect treatment to cost $1,000-$1,500 minimum.
Needless to say, its much more cost-effective to have your dog fully vaccinated than to have them contract parvovirus.
What Is the Treatment for Parvo?
There is no specific cure for parvovirus, so treatment revolves around supporting the puppy so their body can fight it off.
Supportive care for parvovirus generally includes:
Puppies exhibiting signs of sepsis—where the gut becomes so “leaky” from disease that bacteria from the intestines enter the bloodstream—require antibiotic therapy. Puppies with a high fever or low white blood cell count may also receive antibiotics.
What Is Parvo in Dogs and Puppies?
Parvo is an infectious DNA virus that commonly causes severe illness in young and unvaccinated dogs. It primarily affects the body’s rapidly dividing cells, meaning the intestinal tract and bone marrow are the most affected. Heart muscle cells of very young puppies can also be damaged by parvovirus.
Although parvovirus is most common in puppies and adolescent dogs, it can also affect adult or senior dogs, especially if they are unvaccinated.
A dog infected with canine parvovirus will usually start to show parvo symptoms within 3-7 days of infection.
An infected puppy will often show lethargy as the first sign, and they may not want to eat. They will also often have a fever. As the virus progresses, your dog will begin to suffer from abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may be severe.
Very sick puppies may collapse and have a high heart rate, difficulty breathing, and hypothermia due to the degree of dehydration and infection.
Parvovirus is an incredibly contagious disease that spreads quickly and efficiently. While canine parvovirus is not airborne, it can be found on many surfaces.
Parvo is spread by contact with contaminated feces, but you don’t have to see feces for the virus to be present. It can live on the ground, in kennels, on peoples’ hands, on objects, or on the clothing of those who have been contaminated. Dogs can also carry it on their fur or paws if they’ve come in contact with contaminated material.
Parvovirus can survive in a dog’s environment for months, if not years, and is resistant to many disinfectants. However, it is susceptible to diluted bleach and some specialized cleaners commonly used in veterinary hospitals.
Parvovirus is species-specific, so humans have their own version of the virus. This means that humans cannot get parvovirus from dogs, and dogs cannot get parvovirus from people.
However, it’s still important to use the utmost caution by wearing personal protective equipment if you come into contact with an infected dog. While you may not get parvo, the virus could be spread to another dog via your hands or the clothes you’re wearing.
How Do I Know If My Puppy Will Survive Parvo
If you’ve ever owned a puppy, youve probably been warned about a deadly disease called canine parvovirus, or “parvo” for short. Learn more about parvo, including how your dog or puppy can get it, the early warning signs, as well as how to prevent and treat it.
Parvo is a highly contagious virus that can affect unvaccinated dogs of any age, but it is especially worrisome in puppies. Parvo is preventable with vaccination, but being aware of the risks of the virus can help keep your dog protected.
Puppies are at especially high risk for catching parvo because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. The disease is most severe in young, growing puppies that harbor intestinal parasites. This is why it is extremely important to vaccinate your puppy against parvovirus as soon as possible.