Parvovirus Parvovirus (or just parvo) is a viral infection that attacks the stomach and intestines of dogs.

It causes severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Parvo is passed from dog to dog by dog poop. The virus is very tough, and stays alive for many months in the environment.

So, for example if someone walking in the park accidentally steps on a month-old infected piece of dog poop the Parvovirus is now on the bottom of their shoe. This person is now leaving a trail of viruses that can infect other dogs. It is very easy for dogs to get parvo without ever being near another dog. It takes about 5-7 days after exposure for a dog to start showing symptoms.

Since parvo is caused by a virus, it cannot be “cured” with antibiotics. However, parvo causes the lining of the intestines to come off which in turn allows bacterial infections in the body. This is called “septicemia.” Parvo also causes the body’s normal infection-fighting mechanisms to not work very well, which makes your dog more susceptible to other kinds of infection.

Once an animal becomes infected all we can do is provide supportive care, which means giving them IV fluids, antibiotics (to treat the septicemia and prevent other infections from taking advantage of the body’s weakened state), and drugs to try to stop the vomiting. Parvo is very expensive to treat, and if your dog comes in to the clinic and is diagnosed with parvo, you can expect to pay from $500 to $1,000 for treatment, and even then only a little more than half of the dogs survive.

The good news in all of this is that parvo is very preventable. All you have to do is get your dog vaccinated! Over-the-counter vaccines are available, or you can bring your puppy to the hospital. New puppies require 4 visits, 3-4 weeks apart. During the first visit there is a thorough physical exam, deworming and vaccinations for a full range of diseases including distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. During your visits for the booster shots there is only a brief exam and the vaccines.

On your last visit you’ll also get a rabies vaccination which includes a rabies certificate and a rabies tag. If you add all the visits for a new puppy together you should expect to pay around $160. If you choose to vaccinate your dog for other things (like Kennel Cough or Leptospirosis) the cost could be more. It costs around $50 per year to get a complete physical exam and keep your dog’s vaccines current.

To learn more about parvovirus check out the following links:

 http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm

 http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/canine_parvo/parvo_brochure.asp

http://parvo-virus.com/ If your dog has never had vaccines, or is overdue for vaccines, call the hospital today at 883-3456 to schedule an appointment for your wellness exam and vaccine assessment.