Since many owners we know are concerned with the Parvo virus, we are informing everyone with valuable information.
What is Parvo?
Parvo
is a common and potentially serious viral disease in dogs. The virus is
officially known Parvovirus. The disease caused by this virus is
commonly referred to as "Parvo". The virus first appeared clinically in
1978, and there was a widespread epidemic in dogs of all ages. Since no
dogs had been exposed or vaccinated (the vaccine didn't exist at the
time), dogs of all ages died from the infection. The virus can "adapt"
over time, and other strains of the virus have appeared since then, but
current vaccinations available for Parvovirus protect against all
strains of the virus. Canine Parvovirus is thought to be a mutation
from the feline Parvovirus, also known as Feline Distemper virus.
What are the signs seen with Parvovirus infection?
There are three main manifestations of Parvovirus infection:
1. Asymptomatic - No signs seen. Common in dogs over 1 year old and vaccinated dogs.
2. Cardiac - This form of the disease has been eliminated due to the
immunization of the bitches prior to having puppies. Severe
inflammation, necrosis, and scarring of the heart muscle was seen in
very young pups before immunization was widespread.
3. Intestinal -
This virus causes extreme damage to the intestinal tract, causing
sloughing of the cells that line the tract. This can leave the patient
open to secondary bacterial infection. Most of the affected dogs (85%)
are less than one year old and between 6-20 weeks old -- before the
full set of vaccinations can be given. The death rate from infection is
reported to be 16-35% in this age group.*
he intestinal signs include:
* Lethargy
* Vomiting
* Loss of appetite
* Diarrhea - usually bloody, and very foul-smelling (a characteristic odor, particular to Parvovirus infection)
* Fever
The
onset of clinical signs is usually sudden, often 12 hours or less. The
incubation from exposure to seeing the clinical signs varies from 7 to
10 days.
How is Parvovirus infection diagnosed?
This disease
is diagnosed by physical examination, signalment (age, vaccination
status, breed, etc.), and a fecal Parvo (ELISA) test. Additional
diagnostics include blood work and radiographs. Dogs infected with
Parvo typically have a low white count. Radiographs help rule out other
potential causes for vomiting and diarrhea.
How is Parvovirus infection treated?
There
is no treatment specifically for the Parvovirus at this time. Treatment
is supportive care, which includes any or all of the following:
* Oral electrolyte fluids - if the case is mild and the animal isn't vomiting
* Subcutaneous (SQ) or intravenous (IV) fluids to maintain hydration in
the face of the extreme fluid losses from vomiting and diarrhea that
are so typical with this disease
* Anti-vomiting/nausea medications
- to prevent further damage from vomiting and to keep the patient
comfortable as possible.
* Antibiotics - because the virus has
potential to slough the intestinal tract, antibiotics help protect
against secondary infection.
* Blood or Plasma transfusions - to replace protein loss, provide antibodies, help with anemia.
Many
puppies infected with Parvovirus need to be hospitalized for supportive
care. Some can be treated by out-patient care at home.
Hospitalization
is typically about 3 to 7 days, sometimes longer. Surviving the first
three days is usually a good sign for long term survival.
How long does Parvovirus last in the environment?
The
Parvovirus family of viruses are particularly long-lived in the
environment, lasting anywhere from 1 to 7 months -- commonly surviving
5-7 months in an outside environment. Due to the large amounts of virus
particles shed in the feces of an infected dog (shedding lasts two
weeks or more after exposure) and the longevity of the virus, complete
eradication of the virus is often impossible and sometimes the virus
will stay in the environment indefinately!
How can I disinfect an area contaminated by a dog infected with Parvovirus?
There
are many Parvovirus disinfectants on the market, but regular old bleach
is still 100% effective against Parvovirus. The dilution for bleach is
one part bleach to 30 parts water. Caution is advised for dyed or
colored fabrics or objects. This should go without saying, but to be
complete, DO NOT use a bleach preparation on the animal at any time!!!
The commercial Parvovirus disinfectants have the advantage of better
smelling preparations. Check the label for color fast warnings. See
your vet or pet store for the various disinfectants available.
Be sure to keep feces (and any vomitus) picked up in the yard and kennel area as well.
How can I protect my dog from becoming infected?
Vaccination
is the key to prevent this disease and protect your dog. Breeding
bitches should be vaccinated prior to becoming pregnant to ensure that
the pups get the best start at immunity. Vaccinations should start at 6
weeks of age, and be boostered at 9, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Some
veterinarians also booster at 20 weeks, depending on the breed and
Parvovirus risk in your area. Speak with your veterinarian about what
vaccination protocol is the best for your pet and your lifestyle.
I heard that some breeds of dogs are more susceptible, is this true?
Yes,
it appears that some breeds, most notably the Rottweiler, Doberman
Pinscher, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, and Labrador Retrievers are at
an increased risk for this disease. Conversely, Toy Poodles and Cockers
appear to be at a reduced risk for contracting this disease.** It is
important to remember, however, that any breed can get Parvovirus. Be
sure to keep your dog's vaccinations up to date.
** Breed information from The Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th ed. ****
http://www.sweetfurbabies.com/id29.htm
More Parvo info:
"The primary cause of failure of canine parvovirus
vaccines is an interfering level of maternal antibody against the
canine parvovirus. Maternal antibodies are the antibodies present in
the mother's milk during the first 24 hours after the puppy's birth.
The age at which puppies can effectively be immunized is proportional
to the titer of the mother and the effectiveness of colostral transfer
of maternal antibody within those first 24 hours. High levels of
maternal antibodies present in the puppies' bloodstream will block the
effectiveness of a vaccine. When the maternal antibodies drop to a low
enough level in the puppy, immunization by a commercial vaccine will
work. The complicating factor is that there is a period of time from
several days to a couple weeks in which the maternal antibodies are too
low to provide protection against the disease, but too high to allow
the vaccine to work. This period is called the window of
susceptibility. This is the time when despite being vaccinated, a puppy
can still contract parvovirus. The length and timing of the window of
susceptibility is different in every litter."
"A
study done in 1985 in a cross section of different puppies showed, that
the age at which they were able to respond to a vaccine and develop
protection covered a wide period of time. At six weeks of age, 25% of
the puppies could be immunized. At 9 weeks of age, 40% of the puppies
were able to respond to the vaccine. The number increased to 60% by 16
weeks, and by 18 weeks of age, 95% of the puppies could be immunized."
"When
we examine all of the information about maternal derived antibodies,
windows of susceptibility, throw in breed susceptibilities, the
possibility of unidentified strains, and the effectiveness of different
vaccines, we begin to see why there are so many different vaccination
protocols and why some vaccinated animals still develop the disease.
Drs. Foster and Smith recommend a protocol that will help protect the
widest range of dogs. We realize that with our protocol, we will be
vaccinating some dogs that are not capable of responding and we will be
revaccinating some dogs that have already responded and developed a
high titer. But without doing an individual test on each puppy, it is
impossible to determine where the puppy is in its immune status. We
also realize due to the window of susceptibility, some litters will
contract parvovirus despite being vaccinated. By using quality vaccines
and an aggressive vaccination protocol, we can make this window of
susceptibility as small as possible." TekTrolTekTrol, is a Synthetic detergent disinfectant, cleaner used in animal
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residual control of odor causing bacteria in the presence of
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Feline Calici & Rhino; Canine Adenovirus, Corona & Parvo;
Equine Rhino, Parainfluenza, Influenza A2, Avian Adenovirus. It's
priced at $$32.49, but remember, its a gallon that you dilute, so you
should have plenty to treat your house and yard with. When you go to
use it on your carpet, put it in the rug doctor and clean the carpet
with that. For more info on TekTrol or to oder more Parvo killing solutions, visit http://www.revivalanimal.com