Diets for Canine Parvo

Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system of puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs, causing dehydration, hypoglycemia and, in many cases, death. Dogs suffering from parvovirus will exhibit many symptoms--most commonly vomiting, lethargy and bloody diarrhea. Treating parvovirus can be tricky, and managing diet before, during and after the onset of symptoms is crucial to a favorable recovery.

  1. Withhold Food

    • Withhold food in the early stages. When the dog first begins to exhibit symptoms such as lack of appetite and lethargy, remove food and water. It is critical to get the dog to a veterinarian at this point of the disease to give him the best chance of survival. From this point until vomiting subsides, the dig will not be offered anything to eat or drink by mouth. All nutrients and fluids should be given intravenously.

      Watch for signs of recovery. Dogs with parvovirus will move quickly from loss of appetite and lethargy to active vomiting and diarrhea, with the worst of the symptoms generally lasting from two to three days. When the dog stops actively vomiting and having diarrhea is when the reintroduction of food begins.

    Reintroduce Foods

    • Offer water. Give the dog the opportunity to take a few laps of water orally. He may refuse at first, and this is OK. If he does take it, wait for at least an hour before offering it again to ensure that it does not trigger another round of vomiting.

      Offer bland foods. After a period of at least 12 hours without vomiting, begin to offer the sick dog some rice with chicken stock or cottage cheese. He may be hesitant at first. Offer small amounts and wait for one hour before offering again. At no point should you force the dog to eat nor should you allow him to eat large quantities of food.

      Offer protein. After 12 hours of successful rice feedings, begin to offer lean proteins such as chicken or lamb. Once again, offer it in small portions and monitor the dog for vomiting and diarrhea. The stool may remain soft for quite some time after recovery but should have some mass to it.

    Reintroduce Regular Diet

    • Reintroduce canned food. After a period of several days to several weeks, you can begin to reintroduce canned dog foods back into the diet. At this point, the patient has been able to eat everything offered without vomiting and is well on his way to recovery. If the canned food is successful, begin to reintroduce his regular diet after 24 to 48 hours.