13/12/2024
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ
Paul A. Cardenio, DVM, MSc
Do you have a puppy or planning to adopt one? Thatโs awesome! But have you heard about canine parvovirus or simply โparvoโ? Have you lost a puppy because of it?
๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ is a highly contagious viral infection in dogs caused by CPV-2 virus. It is fatal particularly in puppies less than 6 months old, though older than 6 months can be infected. Survival rate may be as low as 9% if no medical treatment is undertaken but may exceed 80% in tertiary care facilities.
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐?
The CPV-2 virus is present in almost any environment. An infected dog sheds 35 million viral particles per ounce of stool. The disease spreads through oral contact to infected f***s or contaminated environment. But not all who come in contact to it succumb to infection. The immune status of the dog, the virus load the dog is exposed to, and vaccination status of the dog are the major factors in developing clinical signs of this fatal disease.
โ๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐๐จโ
Since the virus can be found anywhere, it is possible that the virus gets into our homes thru our clothings especially our shoes/slippers that our puppies love to play with. The dog could also acquire the virus from the breeding kennel, pet shops, and even in veterinary establishments that do not practice proper and strict disinfection.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ค?
The clinical signs are non-specific to this disease which include:
โ Anorexia or lethargy, weakness, depression, foul-smelling diarrhea, pain, vomiting, dehydration, and fever.
โ There is no consistent character of the stool: it may be watery, yellow in color or tinged with frank blood in severe cases.
(if you observe ANY of these signs, bring your pet to the vet clinic and do not ask online for home remedies)
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ?
โTreatment mainly relies upon symptomatic (e.g. anti-vomiting, pain management) and supportive therapies (e.g. fluid therapy, nutritional support)
โ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ค, ๐ฆ๐จ๐จ๐บ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐500 ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ ๐ด๐ช๐ญ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ด๐ข๐ง๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ง๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ด. Home remedies are not advisable. The vets can prescribe oral medicines if the dog will be taken cared at home.
โHyperimmune serum may help reduce the virus load, but currently only limited studies support the efficacy of this treatment.
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ?
โ Complete vaccination (4-5 vaccines starting 6-8 weeks old) given by a licensed veterinarian
โ Do not adopt puppies from puppy milling kennels, and vaccinated by breeders (illegal practice)
โ Disinfect your house/kennel and cages using chlorine solution (1 part bleach mixed with 30 parts water) regularly and prior introduction of new puppy.
โ Do not mix the new puppy with other dogs until fully vaccinated (if possible)
โ Do not walk the dog outside the house until fully vaccinated; even during vet visits, do not allow your dog to roam around the clinic or sniff or lick the floor or other dogs.
โ Do not allow dogs to play with your slippers/shoes.
โ Avoid touching otherโs dog; wash your hand before playing with your dogs
โ Follow your vetโs health program for your dog.
Consult your vet to know more about this disease and other diseases that can be prevented through vaccination and proper care/hygiene. Be a responsible pet owner. ๐ค
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References:
Mylonakis ME, Kalli I, Rallis, TS. 2016. Canine parvoviral enteritis: an update on the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Veterinary Medicine 7: 91โ100. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S80971
Nandi S & Kumar M. 2010. Canine parvovirus: current perspective. Indian Journal of Virology 21(1): 31โ44. doi: 10.1007/s13337-010-0007-y
