Canine parvovirus infection is a highly contagious disease caused by canine parvovirus type 2, commonly called “parvo.”
This virus attacks white blood cells and the digestive system of dogs. In puppies, the virus can also damage the heart muscle.
All dogs are susceptible to canine parvovirus, although some are at greater risk than others, including puppies between 6 and 20 weeks of age, unvaccinated dogs, and certain breeds such as:
- Rottweilers
- Doberman pinscher
- Bull terrier breeds
- German Shepherd
- English springer spinel
Symptoms of canine parvovirus
Symptoms of parvovirus infection vary from dog to dog depending on the severity of the infection. Here are some important signs to watch out for:
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Vomit
- Severe diarrhea, often bloody
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Fever or low body temperature (hypothermia): Fever is not a common symptom among all cases of paro. In some dogs, after contracting paro, a high fever suddenly subsides.
- Blood in stool
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can quickly cause dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock. This can lead to death, with most deaths occurring within 48 to 72 hours of the first symptoms appearing.
Expansion and transmission
Canine parvovirus can be transmitted through:
- Direct dog-to-dog contact
- Dog contact with contaminated feces
- Contaminated surfaces that contain viruses
- People who have been in contact with infected dogs (unwashed hands and clothes)
- Contaminated food and water containers
- Leashes, collars and other contaminated accessories
Fortunately, this is not an airborne virus. If your dog tests positive for parvovirus, you must thoroughly clean your dog’s floors, furniture, furnishings, clothing, and accessories. Hugging or touching other dogs after touching a CPV positive dog can further spread the disease.
This virus is resistant to heat, cold, moisture and drying and can survive in the environment for a long time. Even a small amount of feces from an infected dog can contain the virus and infect other dogs. This makes proper disinfection practices critical.
Because canine parvovirus is highly contagious, dogs suspected or confirmed to be infected should be separated from other dogs to minimize the spread of infection. Other strict infection control protocols should also be followed, including thorough cleaning and disinfection of areas where the dog will be exposed with products that can kill the virus. If your dog has a parvovirus infection, your vet can recommend things you can do to prevent the spread of parvovirus in your home and elsewhere.
Tests and diagnosis
By far, the most common and convenient way to test for the presence of CPV is the stool ELISA test. CPV stool ELISA tests are usually completed by your veterinarian in less than 15 minutes. Although the ELISA test is fairly accurate, it can sometimes produce false-positive or false-negative results, so additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
The CPV fecal PCR test detects small fragments of viral DNA that are specific for CPV in the feces of an infected dog. This test is very accurate (more so than stool CPV ELISA), but requires a stool sample to be sent to a laboratory that specializes in PCR-based testing, so it usually takes more time than CPV stool ELISA.
A simple measurement of the white blood cell count is often the key to diagnosing CPV. Because one of the first things parvovirus infects is the bone marrow, low white blood cell counts can indicate CPV infection.
treatment
Treatment options for dogs suffering from CPV include supportive care and symptom management.
Hospitalization is often necessary so that the dog can receive intravenous fluids and nutrients to replace the large amounts lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Intravenous serum is preferred because the digestive system of affected dogs is usually compromised and cannot tolerate or absorb what the dog needs. Blood transfusions may also be helpful in increasing low blood cell counts that may result from CPV infection of the bone marrow.
Antibiotics may be an appropriate treatment for a dog with CPV, given intravenously or by injection to help fight infection if intestinal bacteria enter the bloodstream. In addition, medications to control nausea and diarrhea are sometimes helpful. Many dogs respond to drug treatment if it is started in time, and dogs that recover from CPV infection maintain lifelong protective immunity against the strain that infected them.
Prevention and control
To limit environmental contamination and transmission to other susceptible animals, dogs with confirmed or suspected CPV should be treated with strict isolation procedures (e.g. housing, clothing and gloved personnel, frequent and thorough cleaning, foot baths, etc.). behave All surfaces should be cleaned of gross organic matter and then disinfected with a dilute bleach solution or a peroxygen, potassium peroxymonosulfate, or accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfectant. These same solutions can be used as a foot bath to disinfect shoes.
In a kennel, shelter, or hospital setting, cages and equipment should be cleaned, disinfected, and dried twice before reuse. The same concepts can be applied in a home situation. Removal of contaminated organic matter is important in outdoor conditions where complete disinfection is not practical. Disinfectants can be used outdoors with spray hoses, but the disinfection will be less effective than when used on clean, indoor surfaces.
To reduce the gap in immunity and provide the best protection against canine parvovirus in the first few months of life, a series of vaccinations is recommended. The parvovirus vaccine is included in a combination vaccine (sometimes abbreviated as DAPP, DA2PP, or similar) that protects dogs against some other common canine viruses. This vaccine is considered “primary” and is recommended for all dogs. Puppies younger than 16 weeks should receive their first dose between 6 and 8 weeks of age, followed by two more doses 2 to 4 weeks apart. Dogs older than 16 weeks with no previous vaccinations or unknown history should receive two doses 2 to 4 weeks apart.
To maintain protection, a booster dose of the combined vaccine is recommended within one year after the last dose in the primary vaccination series. After that, a repeat dose is recommended every year.