Getting your puppy vaccinated three times within the first 12 weeks of their life is essential for preventing parvovirus - and you should also take a few additional steps for their safety.
Canine parvovirus (commonly referred to as parvo) in dogs is one of the primary concerns for puppies who are under six months of age. The virus was first identified in the late 1970s where it swept through the dog population and killed thousands, which forced vets to work together and rapidly develop a vaccine to counter the disease. Since then the amount of deaths caused by parvovirus in dogs has been greatly reduced, and getting your puppy vaccinated for the disease is one of the most essential things you need to do within the first few weeks of owning them.
Parvo in dogs is a highly contagious and deadly virus. It can survive for months – and potentially as long as a year – outside of the body on objects such as clothing, shoes, dog bowls and toys or even just on the floor. Most disinfectants fail to remove it and even high temperatures don’t prevent it from spreading. The virus works by invading the dog’s body and killing the cells that line their small intestine so they can’t absorb fluids. A mild infection will pass within a few days, but with a severe infection a dog can become heavily dehydrated and die within a day or two.
The seriousness of the infection depends largely on their immunity – which is based on what is passed on from their mother as well as their own body developing antibodies for the virus. These antibodies are built up by giving a puppy vaccinations within the first few weeks of owning them, and should be provided in three separate doses. The first vaccination given at 5-7 weeks of age will often be neutralized by the immunity passed on by the mother, so it is necessary to provide two more vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart to help stimulate the puppy into growing their own antibodies to counteract the virus.
When a puppy is correctly vaccinated during this vulnerable period of their life they usually won’t experience any serious problems relating to parvovirus, though there are a few other important things you should know to help stay clear of the disease.
Symptoms Of Parvovirus In Dogs
The worrying fact about parvo in dogs is that by the time you see any noticeable symptoms of the disease it’s already too late to do anything about it. Prevention is the only real cure, so there’s no opportunity to wait for signs to appear before treating your dog. By that time the virus has likely infected all of their vital organs and the following symptoms will only just begin to appear:
- Vomiting and diarrhea (often containing blood).
- Fever and severe dehydration.
- Depression, a lack of energy and appetite.
- A distinctively foul-smelling odor to their feces.
Many of these symptoms can also be quite common to a variety of illnesses, so you may not believe that the signs are all that serious at first. Taking your dog to the vet is the only way to be sure, as they will be able to run tests and confirm whether or not they are infected with parvovirus. You need to do this immediately if any of these symptoms appear – the death rate for this virus is about 30-40% even with immediate action, which doesn’t leave a lot to be said if you don’t act right away. If the presence of the virus is confirmed, the dog will be put on an IV to prevent further dehydration while being given necessary intensive care. Many dogs recover if they survive the first 2-3 days, but quite often the disease can do permanent damage and leave a dog with ongoing heart complications or special dietary requirements.
Preventing Parvovirus In Dogs
The importance of getting your dog vaccinated for parvo cannot be understated – it is the best and only true way to prevent your dog from being infected with the disease, which is all the more important given the limited treatment options that are available. Vaccinations should consist of a puppy’s initial three shots plus a booster shot every year thereafter. In addition to this, there are a few extra steps you can take for preventing parvo in dogs:
- Puppies should avoid going out in public until they are around six months of age and their antibodies have fully developed – many people choose to take them out as soon as they’ve had their final vaccination, but this is not usually recommended as it’s still possible to become infected by the virus.
- Even if a dog has recovered from parvovirus and built up an immunity towards it, they can still excrete the disease in their feces. For this reason, you shouldn’t let your dog sniff and especially eat another dog’s droppings, as this is one of the most common ways they’ll become infected.
- Ensure that your yard is adequately fenced so that no dogs can get in or out – a curious dog passing by could easily pass the virus onto your puppy, or your puppy might otherwise get out and contact the virus somewhere in the environment.
- Never buy second-hand products for your puppy – though getting cheap dog crates, beds and bowls from eBay might be tempting, they could easily be infected with parvo given that the virus can survive for so long outside of the body.
- Always be careful about the dogs you allow your puppy to meet, and if possible ensure that all owners show you an up-to-date vaccination certificate if you intend on getting together for specific puppy socialization sessions. Puppy socialization is important, but not at the risk of your dog getting sick.
Posted by Brent McCoy on October 18, 2011