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It\u2019s early 2020, and the coronavirus is all over the news \u2014 you just can\u2019t avoid it. With the world anxious about affliction, let\u2019s use the opportunity to talk about one that threatens pets. The canine parvovirus (<\/span>CPV<\/span><\/a>) afflicts mainly young dogs and can be deadly if left untreated. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent and deal with this disease, so let\u2019s look into some of them.<\/span><\/p>\n Parvo is a highly contagious virus causing gastrointestinal issues in dogs (as well as foxes, skunks, and <\/span>even some cats<\/span>). It usually afflicts the pet in one of two ways:<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that dogs can spread the virus even before showing any symptoms<\/strong>. Early diagnosis and quarantine are essential in preventing the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n Within four to five days of exposure, a dog might start to show the first signs of infection.\u00a0<\/span>These include but aren\u2019t limited to the following:<\/span><\/p>\n The resulting dehydration is often fatal. Once the intestinal lining takes damage, secondary bacterial infections can also occur. As soon as you notice any of these symptoms, get your dog to the vet ASAP. And in the meantime, try to keep them away from other animals, especially puppies.<\/p>\n Young dogs (up to sixteen weeks of age) are particularly vulnerable to parvo. Additionally, certain breeds are considered to be at an increased risk of infection. These include Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Staffordshire Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n Your local veterinarian will choose how to treat the parvo infection depending on several factors. Treatment involves managing the symptoms while strengthening the dog\u2019s immune system as it combats the virus. The dog is hospitalized for about a week, kept on an IV drip to maintain nutrition and electrolyte levels. The first 3-4 days of this period are critical. The survival rate is 70%<\/strong> for adult dogs but can be much lower for puppies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If all goes well and the dog enters recovery, the vet should issue instructions and advice. These include dietary recommendations, booster shots, antibiotics to fight secondary infections, and more. <\/span>Ask your vet about ways to prevent future infections, and don’t forget follow-up visits!<\/span><\/p>\n For about two months, a recovering dog is considered an infection risk to other animals. You\u2019ll need to keep him away from other dogs \u2014 again, puppies are especially vulnerable. As usual, scooping up the poop before other animals can sniff it is the responsible thing to do.<\/span><\/p>\n The good news is, parvo is a fully preventable disease. Standard vaccination provides a high degree of protection. The puppy takes the shots in stages, as follows:<\/p>\n Certain high-risk breeds might need extended periods of vaccination. For details on this, consult your vet.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that not even fully vaccinated dogs are 100% immune to the virus. Puppies that haven\u2019t been fully vaccinated should be somewhat isolated \u2014 don\u2019t put them in daycare or training courses!<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond that, the best way to prevent CPV infection is by maintaining a clean living environment for your pet. This is a particularly important topic for animal transporters, so let\u2019s look at it a little closer.<\/span><\/p>\n While the canine parvovirus is not transferable to humans, we share the blame for the spread of this disease. Pet owners, transporters, even veterinary technicians can fail to maintain adequate sanitary conditions. When handling dogs, it\u2019s vitally important to <\/span>keep all hands, tools, and surfaces clean<\/b>! Otherwise, you might transfer contaminants from a sick dog to a healthy one without even knowing. The chance is small but it\u2019s there \u2014 you owe it to the animals in your care to avoid this.<\/span><\/p>\n As every USDA-approved driver knows, <\/span>quality pet crates<\/span><\/a> are designed with easy cleaning in mind. When transporting an unvaccinated puppy, a <\/span>thorough clean-up<\/strong> and disinfection<\/strong> can reduce the chance of CPV spreading to near-zero! To scrub the physical waste and odors, the standard detergent and water combo should do the trick. But to completely get rid of bioactive residue, invest in commercial disinfectant solutions<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Just as an example, BARK2BASICS is a <\/span>popular product capable of safely removing microorganisms from a dog’s crate or kennel. There’s also a variety of plastic kennel decks<\/a> available, which both transporters and breeders find highly practical.\u00a0<\/p>\nRecognizing parvovirus in dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n
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How is parvovirus treated?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Preventing parvo infections<\/span><\/h2>\n
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The importance of sanitation<\/span><\/h2>\n