Parvo

Parvo

Parvo in Dogs

Parvo

Canine parvovirus (also referred to as CPV, CPV2, or parvo) is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. CPV is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases.

What does the virus do?

• 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.

• Animal dies mainly from dehydration

Why Do Puppies Get Parvo?

Puppies ages six weeks to six months are the most susceptible to parvo.

Why Do Puppies Get Parvo?

•  Puppies younger than six-weeks-old still retain some of their mother’s antibodies, assuming that the dam received her full series of parvo vaccinations. 

• Pups stomach development is at its infancy, therefore, making the animal a target from bacterias and viruses.

• Stomach cant fight off the bad stuff yet.

Poll

Mortality rate in dogs with Parvo can reach UP to

• 50%

• 90%

• 20%

• 10%

Multiple Choice

What age are pups most likely to develop Parvo at?

• 1 year

• 6 weeks

• a week old

Multiple Choice

What are antibodies?

• food

• protein that protects the body

• mucus that hurts pups

What are some of the symptoms of Parvo?

What should I expect?

A puppy with parvo is a very sick dog.

• Bloody Stool

• Vomiting

• Fever

• Lethargy

• Weight loss Weakness

• Dehydration

• Depression

Treating Parvo in Puppies

There is no cure for parvo. Your vet will offer your puppy supportive care over the course of the illness, treating symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, and making sure that your puppy gets adequate nutrition.

Why Antibiotics? Its a virus

Serious viruses like parvo weaken a puppy’s immune system and lower his white blood cell count, reducing his ability to fight off secondary bacterial infections. The damage the virus does to a dog’s intestinal wall increases the likelihood of a secondary infection. Your vet may put your puppy on an antibiotic medication to combat these bacterial infections and will monitor your puppy carefully for additional complications.

Multiple Choice

Parvo is ___________ contagious

• not

• highly

• unlikely

Fill in the Blanks

Some of the symptoms of parvo are____________,__________and ______________.

Multiple Choice

There is no treatment for parvo, the best your vet can do is offer __________ treatment for dehydration and diarrhea.

• supportive

• minimal

• expensive

Fill in the Blanks

Antibiotics are used to treat

infections. Parvo is a virus, therefore, it can not be treated with an antibiotic.

How is Parvo detected?

Your vet will diagnose parvo based on clinical signs and through blood work. She may also run a test called an ELISA to search for virus antigens in your dog’s feces and will perform additional diagnostic testing as needed.

How do I prevent Parvo?

• Parvo is a preventable virus. All puppies and adult dogs should receive their parvo vaccinations, and it is especially important that bitches used for breeding receive a full course of parvo vaccinations, as the puppies will depend on the mother’s antibodies for the first few weeks of life.

• You should not allow puppies to come into contact with unvaccinated dogs until they have received all of their parvo vaccines.

Preventative Measures

Puppies are vaccinated against parvo at approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. 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.

Open Ended

When should a puppy get its first parvo vaccine?

Open Ended

What is the cause for death when an animal gets parvo?