19/11/2025
Holly's Story 💕
Holly was 8 weeks old and had been with her owner for 3 days when she developed severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Her owner made an appointment to see one of our vets straight away. We admitted her immediately for intravenous fluid therapy and further diagnostic tests, which confirmed that she had Canine Parvovirus. After notifying the breeder, it became apparent that the rest of litter were experiencing the same symptoms.
She was started on medications to treat her symptoms, and a feeding tube was placed which allowed us to maintain her nutrition without causing her unnecessary stress. Holly was hospitalised for just over a week, during that time she received intense barrier nursing and critical care to give her the best possible chance of making a full recovery. We updated Holly’s mum regularly with photos and videos.
After 4 days of being in our care Holly started to turn a corner and was showing some typical puppy behaviours, and with every day that passed she got brighter. Holly eventually started eating by herself, becoming more mischievous and we were happy for her to continue her treatment at home. Once Holly had fully recovered, she returned for her puppy vaccinations which she was due to have before she became ill.
Canine Parvovirus (parvo) is a virus that attacks dog’s (more common in puppies) stomach and intestines, with some of the symptoms being vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and dehydration. Without treatment, the mortality rate is around 91%, making prompt veterinary care crucial for survival, as most deaths occur within the first 48–72 hours after symptoms begin.
What it does
❗It attacks a dog’s stomach and intestines.
❗Causes severe vomiting, diarrhoea (often bloody), loss of appetite, and dehydration.
❗It can also affect the dog’s immune system and sometimes the heart in very young puppies.
How dogs catch it
🔴By coming into contact with the faeces, vomit, or objects that has been touched by an infected dog.
🔴The virus spreads easily and is very tough — it can survive outside the dog for a long time.
Why it’s serious
❗️It can make dogs very weak and sick quickly.
❗️Without treatment, it can be deadly, especially for puppies.
Prevention and treatment
🐾There is a vaccine that protects dogs from parvo — puppies should start their vaccination course from 6-8 weeks of age.
🐾Treatment includes fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, early enteral feeding and critical nursing care.
🐾Contaminated areas are to be cleaned and appropriately disinfected to prevent the virus from spreading.
🐾It is very important to keep your dog's up to date with their vaccinations as this will reduce the risk of catching parvovirus and other illnesses.
We are delighted to say that Holly has made a full recovery and is enjoying life with her mum. The pictures/video below are of Holly when she was hospitalised with us, and some more recent ones on her adventures.
