Canine parvovirus can affect any dog, regardless of age, and these dogs can pick it up from surfaces that have touched contaminated feces. However, puppies are the most susceptible to the virus, and as the disease attacks the gastrointestinal tract, affected puppies will vomit and have diarrhea. Often referred to only as "parvo," the virus is very serious and your puppy should be seen by your veterinarian as soon as you suspect the puppy has the virus.
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Types
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There are three versions of canine parvovirus type 2, which is the strain of virus that is so worrisome to dog owners. The two that affect puppies are parvovirus type 2b and, to a smaller extent, parvovirus type 2c. The differences in the types are seen genetically, and both produce similar symptoms in infected puppies.
Risk
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Unvaccinated puppies are more prone to contract the virus. Dog breeds most likely to be affected by the virus are rottweilers, American pit bull terriers, Doberman pinschers and German shepherds, while cocker spaniels and toy poodles are least likely to contract the disease.
Transmission
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A puppy can contract parvovirus from direct and indirect contact with the virus. Direct contact means your puppy has somehow ingested infected feces, but indirect contact can include picking up the virus from the ground the feces have been on or using the same leash as an affected dog that has had the feces on it.
Symptoms
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Puppies with parvovirus may be lethargic, not interested in eating and have a fever. Your puppy may also start vomiting or producing diarrhea. However, puppies may not show the symptoms of parvovirus even if infected with the disease unless stressed or infected with another disease concurrently.
Spread
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Unfortunately parvovirus is a very hardy virus and can survive extreme heat and cold. The virus can exist in the environment long after being shed by an infected dog in the feces and continue to infect other dogs. An infected dog can shed the parvo virus starting three days after infection, and can continue shedding the virus until 10 to 14 days after infection. Many cleaners cannot kill the virus, but bleach and some commercial cleaners can. When looking for a cleaner to kill parvovirus, look for labels that state use for parvovirus.
Diagnosis and Treatment
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Puppies with parvovirus are diagnosed by having the ELISA or hemagglutination test performed by your veterinarian. Sometimes the tests can be falsely negative if performed too early, before the virus is mature, so veterinarians may diagnose based on the present symptoms.
A puppy infected with parvovirus can only be given treatments that deal with the problems caused by the disease, not the disease itself. For example, your veterinarian will give your puppy fluids to replace what is lost during bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. Antibiotics often do no good when dealing with parvo virus unless a secondary bacterial infection is present.
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