Dog's Diseases

Parvovirus

What causes parvovirus?
Parvovirus is a disease which like distemper is caused by a virus. It infects the villi of the intestinal tract and causes a serious and often life-threatening illness characterized by profuse bloody diarrhoea. Small puppies are again the most at risk and the disease is seldom seen in adult dogs. As with distemper, puppies are at most risk from this virus as they have no protection from vaccination and are often kept in groups. The disease can spread very quickly if an infected animal is introduced to the group. This is especially true in pet shops where new puppies are constantly coming in and out. Infected puppies may not show any sickness for up to 2 weeks, so even when your new puppy looks healthy there is still a chance he/she may get sick from this disease.

How can I protect my puppy?
The best way to prevent puppies getting this disease is to ensure that the mother of the puppy is properly vaccinated before she gets pregnant, and to keep the puppies away from other dogs until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves. Where your puppy is purchased from a pet shop, there is a moderate risk of infection. A single vaccination does not mean your dog is protected. Your puppy will not be protected from the disease until 2 weeks after his/her last vaccination. You should keep your puppy indoors and away from other non vaccinated dogs until this time.

How do I know if my dog has this disease?
Puppies which become infected with parvovirus will usually first become dull, tired and unhappy. They will normally start vomiting first and this is followed by a bloody, foul smelling diarrhoea. Any small puppy who stops eating should be taken immediately to see a veterinarian as it often means that something serious is wrong. There are tests that can be carried out by your veterinarian to detect if your puppy has parvovirus. Puppies can die of parvovirus and the outcome depends upon how strong their immune system is and the level of care that they receive. They are definitely hospital cases and can quickly dehydrate and become overwhelmed by infection if left untreated.