Parvovirus

You may have heard of Parvo and the horror stories that accompany its diagnosis. Fortunately, because of vaccination, the number of parvo cases has decreased dramatically over the last 30 years. Because not all dogs are vaccinated or have suppressed immune systems, however, parvo is still out there and still wreaks havoc on our pets.

Parvo is a virus that attacks the water-absorbing tissues of the small intestine. This, in combination with a severe bacterial overgrowth and full-body infection (sepsis), parvo rapidly causes dehydration and can lead to death if not treated properly. This disease is most commonly seen in puppies, but unvaccinated or immunosuppressed adult dogs can still be affected.

The most common signs associated with parvo are vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes with a very foul odor or blood in the stool. Not all cases of vomiting and/or diarrhea are definitely parvo. A simple stool test can be done at Jensen’s Animal Hospital, which can tell us not only if your dog is positive for parvo, but will also give us, an idea on the amount of virus present.

Depending on how sick your dog becomes will determine on whether your pet can be treated on an out-patient basis, or if he/she will need to be hospitalized. Some severe cases have cost over $1200, with a fair prognosis. The $30 vaccine given every three weeks until your puppy is 14 weeks old and then every year might seem expensive at the time, but look at the possible alternative.

If you think your pat may have been exposed to Parvovirus, or to treat your pet if she/he is positive for parvo, please contact our clinic.

Dr. Pamela Graves