Parvovirus is a viral disease of dogs. It affects puppies much more frequently than adult dogs and it is one of the most common viral illnesses affecting canines.
It is a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system and the affected dogs and puppies are not able to absorb nutrients from the food they consume. The symptoms of the illness are diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, high fever, loss of appetite and bloody liquid stool. Canine parvovirus is carried by dogs. Adult dogs may be infected carriers without showing any clinical signs.
It generally takes 7-10 days from the time of exposure for dogs and puppies to start showing symptoms and to test positive for parvo. Parvo is highly contagious to unprotected dogs, and the virus can remain infectious in faecal material for five months or more if conditions are favourable.
Extremely hardy, most disinfectants cannot kill the virus but chlorine bleach is the most effective and inexpensive agent that works, and is commonly used by vets
It is worth noting that parvovirus is not airborne.Many vets recommend vaccinating puppies every three to four weeks, starting when a puppy is six weeks old and continuing until a puppy reaches at least 16 weeks, or preferably 20 weeks. It is possible that this treatment will offer lifelong immunity from the disease; nevertheless many vets recommend a yearly vaccination.
All vaccines may cause some adverse reactions. There can be immediate sensitivity reactions such as anaphylactic shock, which can be severe and life threatening. However, these are rare responses and usually happen in the vet's office where treatment is available.
Immune suppression occurs a few days after the vaccination and lasts a week or two. Usually this does not cause any problems. Immune mediated hemolytic anemia strikes some dogs as a result of vaccinations and this is a very serious side effect but it is very uncommon.
It is a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system and the affected dogs and puppies are not able to absorb nutrients from the food they consume. The symptoms of the illness are diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, high fever, loss of appetite and bloody liquid stool. Canine parvovirus is carried by dogs. Adult dogs may be infected carriers without showing any clinical signs.
It generally takes 7-10 days from the time of exposure for dogs and puppies to start showing symptoms and to test positive for parvo. Parvo is highly contagious to unprotected dogs, and the virus can remain infectious in faecal material for five months or more if conditions are favourable.
Extremely hardy, most disinfectants cannot kill the virus but chlorine bleach is the most effective and inexpensive agent that works, and is commonly used by vets
It is worth noting that parvovirus is not airborne.Many vets recommend vaccinating puppies every three to four weeks, starting when a puppy is six weeks old and continuing until a puppy reaches at least 16 weeks, or preferably 20 weeks. It is possible that this treatment will offer lifelong immunity from the disease; nevertheless many vets recommend a yearly vaccination.
All vaccines may cause some adverse reactions. There can be immediate sensitivity reactions such as anaphylactic shock, which can be severe and life threatening. However, these are rare responses and usually happen in the vet's office where treatment is available.
Immune suppression occurs a few days after the vaccination and lasts a week or two. Usually this does not cause any problems. Immune mediated hemolytic anemia strikes some dogs as a result of vaccinations and this is a very serious side effect but it is very uncommon.
