Canine Parvovirus - Often Fatal to Pups
Puppies diagnosed with parvovirus have to fight for their lives — and in too many cases this highly contagious disease wins. The disease is characterized by severe vomiting, loss of appetite and bloody, foul smelling diarrhea which causes life-threatening dehydration. Pups diagnosed with parvovirus require intensive hospital therapy to maintain their hydration. This means lots of intravenous fluids. Untreated, it is a killer. The virus also injures the intestine, causing it to break down and allow bacteria to enter the body. Veterinarians fight the resulting infection with antibiotics — often several kinds simultaneously. They must also take daily checks of the white blood cell count. Therapy is not always successful. Adult dogs who are not vaccinated or puppies that have not yet completed their series of vaccinations need not come into direct contact with an infected animal to contract this small but deadline virus. It can easily be picked up from the streets, especially in cities and other areas with heavy concentration of canine populations. You can protect your puppy from parvovirus by vaccinating him against this disease. Your veterinarian will administer a series of shots. You should bring your dog for his first when he is 6 to 8 weeks old. You'll need to bring him back every 3 to 4 weeks for another shot until he is 4 months old. To ensure that your puppy is never exposed to the virus until he is finished with his first series of shots, he must stay indoors — especially if you live in a city. Some veterinarians recommend that certain breeds of dogs that are particularly susceptible to parvovirus — such as Doberman Pinchers, Rottweilers and Pit Bulls — shouldn't finish their vaccinations until they are 5 months old. From then on, ANIMED recommends a once-yearly booster for all breeds. And, please take note: Parvovirus can persist in the environment for months. If there has been an infected dog in your home, you must take precautions to prevent other dogs from picking up the infection. An infected dog's bowls and toys should be discarded or disinfected with a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water. |
