How to know if my dog ​​has parvovirus

Canine parvoriosis is a serious infectious disease caused by a type 2 virus, called parvo virus, and that affects the gastrointestinal system, the red blood cells and, in the most severe cases or in puppies, it can attack the heart muscle. It was only a few years since this disease was detected and, therefore, there is so little information and the chances of survival are so low.

The 80% of dogs They have been in contact with this virus because it is transmitted mainly through infected feces. It’s very important disinfect properly contaminated soil that has been in contact with infected fecal matter, as the parvo virus is highly resistant and can remain for months in soil and contaminated objects.

Most detergents and disinfectants are not enough to remove it, the most effective products are ammonia, chlorine and bleach water. These products should never be mixed nor should we use them if there is someone or an animal in the room that we are disinfecting, we must vacate the room and use a product and ventilate. Then, when it has dried, we will use another of the products and ventilate again. Finally, the last product will be used and the room will be allowed to ventilate for as long as possible before someone re-enters. In addition, you must wear latex gloves and a mask to carry out this disinfection process.

To know if your dog has canine parvoriosis, you must know how the disease is transmitted. The canine parvovirus It attacks, above all, puppies less than 6 months old and adult or older dogs, especially if they are not vaccinated or dewormed. It is essential to deworm our dogs and give them the necessary vaccines to avoid this type of disease. Other factors that help the development of this disease can be stress, intestinal parasites, overcrowding or low mood. Are breeds are especially vulnerable and prone to suffering from this disease:

• German shepherd
• Doberman
• Pit bull
• Rottwailer

This viral disease is highly contagious, evolves at high speed and is transmitted by orally, through contact with infected feces or contaminated material such as the floor, the food bowl or even our own shoes and, in puppies, through breast milk if the mother is a carrier. Objects can become contaminated through our shoes for having stepped on an infected feces or urine, by another infected dog or by contact with rodent droppings.

The canine parvoriosis it usually takes between three and four days to manifest itself and its symptoms may be different depending on the affected system. To know if your dog suffers from this viral disease, you should pay special attention to the symptoms.

When parvovirus affects the gastrointestinal system the symptoms are:

• Fever (it is the first symptom)
• Low mood and depression
• Shortness of breath, weakness, and excessive panting
• Isolation
• Lack of appetite or anorexia
• Frothy vomiting
• Bloody diarrhea with a strong odor
• Dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea

When parvo attacks the heart muscle, dyspnea, arching of the body and, in puppies or very serious cases, myocarditis are added to the above symptoms. Parvovirus in cardiac form in puppies usually ends with sudden death by the weak immune system of the animal.

If your dog or puppy has any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate to take him to the vet for analysis and diagnosis of the disease. Once parvovirus is detected, treatment should be started immediately. Due to its recent discovery, there are no specific medications to treat the disease. Thus, veterinarians often base the treatment in combating dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and controlling vomiting and diarrhea to prevent the infection from increasing. Until it is fully healed, your pet cannot be in contact with other dogs.

If you want to know in detail how to treat canine parvovirus, here is an article in which we explain it to you.

In the case of parvovirus disease The best treatment is prevention. To prevent your dog from developing canine parvoriosis, it is essential that you strictly follow the vaccination plan assigned by the veterinarian, you deworm him, maintain proper hygiene of both your dog and his environment, wash his food bowl often and store the food in a place where rodents cannot reach it.

Remember that before the first vaccinations, your puppy cannot be in contact with other dogs or go outside. Through breast milk the puppy can contract the disease, which can be fought with the appropriate vaccines and eliminate it from the system without noticing that it had become ill. Thus, the virus is shed through feces and, therefore, you must avoid contact of the puppy with its own fecal matter.

In addition to veterinary treatment, it is vital that an infected dog’s diet is adjusted. Thus, the diet for a dog with parvovirus, so that it can be recovered more easily and more quickly, it must be based on the following instructions:

Maintain good hydration

It is essential that, while the dog suffers from the virus and is medicated, it is provided with extra hydration since with vomiting and diarrhea they lose a lot of water. This is simple through intravenous serum at the veterinary hospital where he is admitted or at home with the serum backpacks that the specialist must provide us. Through this serum you will recover hydration and mineral salts.

Also, you have to offer fresh water every little while but little quantitySince there is vomiting, if you drink a lot at once, we cause more to occur. If he does not drink by himself, he will have to give the water with a syringe of syrup directly into his mouth, very little at a time. In addition, whenever the veterinarian deems it appropriate, we can offer isotonic drinks.

Remove food

During the first 24-48 hours It is vital that the dog does not eat solid food of any kind, since this is the time when the virus is most violent and diarrhea and vomiting are more frequent and serious. Avoiding food during these hours will facilitate the recovery of our furry friend.

Bland diet

When the vet says that you can add some solid food, we should start by offering Homemade Chicken Broth, without seasonings or salt and well strained, to our pet as if it were water. Then we can add little by little some food easily digestible:

• More homemade chicken broth
• Rice water
• White rice
• Chicken breast chunks
• Special canned food for convalescent dogs or dogs with digestive problems

All this food must be prepared without salt and without seasonings of any kind, since this would worsen the health of our pet. When the vet considers that the dog is recovered, you can give him feed again, but never before.

After the total recovery of your furry you must re-disinfect the house and all the materials and objects with which it has come into contact.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to know if my dog ​​has parvovirus, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.

Advice

• It is essential that you properly disinfect all contaminated materials from the moment you know that your dog is sick in order to promote the treatment and recovery of your dog.