Hello dear friends, do you know what canine Parvovirus is, what are its symptoms, treatment and prevention, does every dog with vomiting and diarrhea have Parvovirus? Let's talk a little bit about this fearsome disease that kills so many dogs every year.
Canine Parvovirus is a viral disease, which is very easily transmitted through the saliva, secretions and feaces of affected dogs. The most of times we bring the disease to our home on clothes, for having been in contact with other sick animals.
The most frequent symptoms of this condition are: apathy, hyporexia and anorexia (he eats little or nothing), vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration shock and, if not treated urgently, death. Symptoms usually appear after 7 to 14 days of coming into contact a puppy with the virus.
A worse phase is also described, after the virus multiplies in the rapidly growing cells of the puppies: those of the digestive system, and the heart, for which cases with sudden death may appear, due to an inflammation of the cardiac tissues (cardiomyopathies).
Is canine parvovirus just a disease of puppies?
All unvaccinated dogs of any age can catch this disease, but in puppies it is where we will see the worst symptoms and the greatest possibility of death, in adult dogs still having the possibility of being infected with it, the clinical manifestations will be lighter.
Is all bloody diarrhea or vomiting Parvovirus?
Canine Parvovirus causes a systemic condition called Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis which according to Craig E. Greene in his book "INFECTIOUS DIESEASES OF THE DOG AND CAT" there are 42 different causes described for this syndrome, including: parasitic, bacterial, toxic and viral where Parvovirus is found, so it is just one of the many pathologies that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. The accurate diagnosis must be made by a specialist (Veterinary Doctor) with the help of diagnostic means.
The only effective treatment is prevention. The first vaccination most be made as soon as 45 days of birth, because the mother protection against this disease is out at this time, then every 21 days up to four months of life with polyvalent vaccines, in this case the most of vaccines for puppies has protection against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospira and Parainfluenza, all deadly diseases and easy transmissibility between dogs.
If your puppy is 24 hours without eating, has some vomiting or start having diarrhea, do not hesitate in looking for specialist diagnostics and treatment, it could be Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis and in the worst of cases Canine Parvovirus. His life could be in danger.