by Maralyn Fink
After Listening to the news this evening and hearing of and outbreak of the Parvo Virus at a shelter in my area, I thought I would give some informative information to you.
The canine parvovirus infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus manifests itself in tow different forms. The more common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lack of appetite. The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of very young puppies, often leading to death. The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old. The incidence of canine parvo infections has been reduced radically by early vaccination in young puppies.
Symptoms And Types:
The major symptoms associated with the intestinal form include sever, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, vomiting and severe weight loss. The intestinal form affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and an affected animal will quickly become dehydrated and weak from lack of protein and fluid absorption. The wet tissue of the mouth and eyes may become noticeably red and the heart may beat too rapidly. When your veterinarian palpates your dog’s abdominal area, your dog may respond with pain or discomfort.
Causes:
Most cases of Parvo infections are caused by a genetic alteration of the original canine parvovirus: the canine parvovirus type 2b. Mainly, the virus is transmitted either by direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the fecal-oral route. There is evidence that the virus can live in ground soil for up to a year. It is resistant to most cleaning products. If you suspect that you have come in contact with feces at all, you will need to wash the affected area with household bleach , the only disinfectant known to kill the virus. Improper vaccination protocol and vaccination failure can also lead to a Parvo infection. Breeding kennels and dog shelters are particularly hit at times with Parvo through no fault of their own.
When visiting the vet with the symptoms mentioned above, you will need to give a through history of your pet’s health, recent activities, and onset of symptoms. If you can gather a sample of your dog’s stool, or vomit, your veterinarian will e able to use these samples for microscopic detection of the virus.