Canine parvovirus is a dangerous and highly contagious viral infection that presents with diarrhea and vomiting and causes an attack on the dog's intestines. A second form of parvovirus, known as cardiac parvovirus, affects puppies 8 weeks old or younger, and directly attacks the heart, which quickly can cause unexpected death. Parvovirus is not contagious to people or other animals, but is highly contagious to other dogs.
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Cardiac Parvovirus
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Cardiac parvovirus affects puppies that are 8 weeks old or younger. Symptoms include crying, gasping, difficulty breathing, depression, unwillingness to nurse, weakness, irregular heartbeat and sudden death. Because of the severity of this type of parvovirus, sudden death is common before any other symptoms become apparent, and the parvovirus is not diagnosed until the death is investigated.
Intestinal Parvovirus
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This form of parvovirus can affect any age of dog, but it is most severe in puppies aged 6 months and younger. Symptoms include loss of appetite, depression, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody vomiting or diarrhea and low white blood cells from immunosuppression. Although this form of parvovirus is less severe than the cardiac parvovirus, a positive prognosis still depends largely on acting quickly in diagnosing and treating the condition.
Treatment
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The focus of treatment for parvovirus is to prevent any secondary bacterial infection from occurring while maintaining a normal body composition. Because parvo is a virus, there is no way to cure it. Treatment focuses on preventing death from dehydration, bacterial infection, intestinal hemorrhage and blood loss or heart attack. One of the most important factors of treating parvovirus is fluid therapy early on, because dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea is one of the primary causes of death involving parvovirus.
Hospitalization
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Hospitalization can play a vital role in parvovirus recovery, but does not guarantee an improved survival rate. During hospitalization, IV fluids are administered that will help to reduce the dehydration brought on by vomiting and diarrhea. The veterinarian will address other symptoms, including blood loss, weakness and difficulty breathing and will manage pain and discomfort as well. Length of hospitalization treatment will depend on how severe the disease is, and can last two to four days or a week or more.
Prognosis
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Catching the parvovirus early offers a survival rate of 70 percent or greater, according to Caroline Tanaka, a veterinarian in Austin, Texas. The prognosis for recovery is not as positive for certain breeds like Dobermans and Rottweilers, who typically have a survival rate of between 30 and 50 percent, even with hospitalization. Very small puppies have an even smaller chance of recovery, primarily because dehydration can weaken and kill them so easily.
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