30/11/2024
🛑IMPORTANT! 🛑 We are seeing a serious increase in parvo (Canine Parvovirus) cases on the Kenai Peninsula and would like to offer some important information for all canine owners.
Puppies ages six weeks to six months are the most susceptible to parvo, although it can affect all ages. This virus is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object. Your puppy is exposed to the parvovirus every time he sniffs, licks, or consumes infected f***s, which includes plenty of f***l bacteria that can't be seen with the naked eye. Indirect transmission occurs when a person who has recently been exposed to an infected dog touches your puppy, or when a puppy encounters a contaminated object, like a food or water bowl, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs. The virus can also be transmitted easily on the ground by the bottoms of shoes from people walking.
Parvo is everywhere and is ultimately unavoidable. Thus, the first step in parvo defense is vaccinating. The most crucial vaccine period is between 8-16 weeks of age. Our clinic recommends the three-series parvo vaccination at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Puppies younger than six-weeks-old still retain some of their mother’s antibodies, assuming that the mother received her full series of parvo vaccinations. They are vulnerable to the disease until they have received all three shots in their vaccination series, which means owners need to take extra precaution during this time to prevent their puppies from contracting the virus. Puppies should receive a dose of canine parvovirus vaccine between 14 and 16 weeks of age, regardless of how many doses they received earlier, to develop adequate protection. Adults also need routine boosters every 1-3 years. Your veterinarian can help determine the vaccine timeline that is best for your pet.
The Merck Veterinary Manual classifies the virus as a disease of the stomach and small intestines, as this is where the virus does the most damage. The virus prefers to infect the small intestine, where it destroys cells, impairs absorption, and disrupts the gut barrier. Parvo in puppies also affects the bone marrow and lymphopoietic tissues, and in some cases can also affect the heart.
A puppy with parvo is a very sick dog. The sooner you catch the early signs of the virus in puppies, the sooner you can get your dog to the vet. Since parvo is common in young puppies, you should call your vet any time your puppy is feeling under the weather, but you should also be aware of the specific symptoms of parvo in puppies: diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, fever, lethargy, no appetite, weight loss, weakness, and dehydration.
All of these symptoms are serious by themselves and could be a sign of parvo or another serious illness. You should contact your vet immediately if you suspect your puppy has parvo, and be sure to notify the vet’s staff ahead of time of your suspicions and your puppy’s symptoms, so that they can take the appropriate quarantine procedures to prevent your puppy from infecting other dogs. If parvo is suspected, your puppy may be tested for parvo from your vehicle prior to the exam.
Puppies and adult dogs with parvo start shedding the virus within 4-to-5 days of exposure. Unfortunately, this time period does not always coincide with the first parvo symptoms, which means dogs can be contagious before owners even realize that they are sick! Puppies with parvo continue to shed the virus for up to 10 days after a clinical recovery, so be sure to keep any puppies recovering from parvo away from unvaccinated and partially vaccinated dogs.
Outside of your dog, the virus can survive indoors for at least one month, and outdoors it can survive for many months and even years under the right conditions (and cold or freezing temperatures only preserve the virus, not kill it). If needed, use a cleaner proven to kill parvovirus. Talk to your vet about the best way to remove the parvovirus from your home environment or kennels if it was exposed to the virus.
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Source: Anna Burke, Author for American Kennel Club
*Note: This article is not intended as a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect your dog has parvo or you have questions about vaccinations, contact your veterinarian immediately.