Parvovirus is one of the most highly contagious viral diseases affecting dogs. Seen mainly in puppies and unvaccinated adults, the parvovirus infects the rapidly dividing cells of the body, including those in the digestive tract. The virus kills off the lining of the stomach and intestines, preventing the sick dog from absorbing any nutrients and causing severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. There is no cure for the virus once it infects your dog, but you can kill the virus in the environment to keep it from infecting any other pets.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Heavy trash bags
- Bleach
- Disposable rags
Instructions
How to Kill the Parvovirus
Remove any toys that the infected dog might have come in contact with. The parvovirus is extremely hardy and can live for up to a year in the environment, so dispose of his toys in a heavy trash bag and throw them away. Be sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves when handling any infected surfaces and dispose of them before touching any uninfected objects to keep from further spreading the virus.
Wash your dog's blankets or bedding in very hot water. Add a cup of bleach to the load of wash to make sure the virus is eliminated from the fabric. Place the bedding in your dryer and dry it using the highest available heat setting.
Wipe down any hard surface with a mixture of half bleach and half water. Floors, countertops and even drawer handles and door knobs can carry the parvovirus, so thoroughly clean any surface your dog might have come in contact with. Use disposable rags and allow the surfaces to air dry then repeat for best results.
Clean up any fecal matter that might be present in your yard and coat the yard with your bleach mixture. The bleach may kill off your grass, but reseeding the yard is much simpler than dealing with another sick dog due to lack of proper cleaning. The virus can remain dormant in deep soil for months, so make sure you soak the ground thoroughly.
Vaccinate any new dogs you get before bringing them on to your property. Your vet can administer the proper set of vaccinations and will check your dog's immunity level to make sure that his system has built up enough defenses to keep him from getting sick once you take him home.