What is canine parvovirus?
Parvovirus is a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease that affects dogs.
Sadly, most of those who catch the disease will die. It infects the cells lining the intestines, stopping absorption of nutrients, causing inflammation and death of the cells in the intestine. The inflammation of the gut allows bacteria to enter the blood and causes secondary sepsis.
Parvovirus is also known as canine parvovirus or CPV.
Canine parvovirus symptoms
The early signs of parvovirus in dogs are a lack of appetite. This is quickly followed by diarrhoea which soon turns foul-smelling and bloody.
What should I do if I suspect my dog has the virus?
Call us immediately for advice. We can run very quick in-house tests to look for CPV in faeces.
You will need to say what symptoms your dog is experiencing, whether they are vaccinated and if you think they may have come into contact with a dog with confirmed parvovirus.
Who is at risk?
Those most at risk from parvovirus include young puppies and unvaccinated dogs. This includes those who have not had their booster injections. Outbreaks are most often seen in towns and cities with a large population of unvaccinated dogs.
How is canine parvovirus spread?
Parvovirus is highly contagious to other dogs and spreads very easily around dogs and puppies that aren’t up to date with their vaccinations. It spreads through body fluids, including in a dog’s poo and vomit.
How to prevent canine parvovirus?
The best form of prevention against this disease is vaccination. Dogs and puppies can be vaccinated against parvovirus from six weeks of age and they will usually need two or three injections in the first four months. This is followed by a top-up at 16 to 18 weeks, a booster at one year old, and boosters every three years after that.
Vaccines vary in terms of their timescales for second vaccines and boosters so if you’re not registered with Aldgate Vets we advise you to check with your vet.
“Call us immediately for advice. We can run very quick in-house tests to look for CPV in faeces.”
Advice for people getting a puppy
It’s essential to find out the vaccination status of a new puppy as many breeders don’t give the first vaccination. If they haven’t had any vaccines, we recommend starting a course as soon as possible
If a puppy is being sold as being vaccinated, new owners should ask for proof of vaccination, and request the vaccination record card, which should have been signed by a vet or veterinary nurse.
Unvaccinated puppies or those who have not finished their vaccination course should not be walked in areas where other dogs have been. It would be advised to keep puppies in their own back garden or to carry them while out and about.
Canine parvovirus treatment
Treatment for parvovirus involves supporting the dog’s immune system to give them a better chance of fighting off the disease themselves. Parvovirus inevitably requires hospitalisation and a drip with intravenous fluids to stop them from becoming dehydrated and potentially drugs to help control vomiting.
The extensive treatment and hospital stay for a dog with parvovirus can lead to a large bill, not to mention the distress of a very poorly pet and the loss of a loved one. This is why we strongly recommend vaccination.
Will my dog suffer any after-effects?
After surviving parvovirus, dogs may experience long-term effects such as weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections.
Digestive issues, including chronic diarrhoea and poor nutrient absorption, can also persist due to intestinal damage caused by the virus.
Some dogs may suffer from ongoing lethargy or weakness during recovery.
In severe cases, long-term heart problems, such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), can occur, although this is less common.
Full recovery can take weeks to months, depending on the severity of the infection and the dog’s overall health.
Canine parvovirus survival rate
Most deaths from parvovirus occur within two to three days of symptoms starting so fast action is required to improve their chances of survival.
With prompt veterinary care, a dog with parvovirus has up to a 90% survival rate. Without treatment, this drops to just 5-10%, highlighting the importance of timely veterinary care for your dog.
For more information, you can read about our vaccination services here.
