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Name
Parvovirus Infection, Canine
Short Description
Canine parvovirus type 2, canine parvoviral enteritis
Affected Animals: Dogs. Doberman pinschers, rottweilers, pit bulls,
English springer spaniels, and Labrador retrievers are especially
susceptible.
Overview: A highly contagious viral illness that usually
affects young puppies, parvovirus is transmitted from one dog to
another via the infected animal's feces. Parvovirus works by
temporarily destroying the lining of the intestinal tract so that
very little or no food or liquid can be absorbed. As a result, dogs
that become infected with parvovirus may experience bloody diarrhea,
severe vomiting, weight loss, and fever. In addition, because
parvovirus also affects the immune system, limiting it from
producing the white blood cells that protect against infection, dogs
with the virus may develop other diseases.
It is rare for an adult dog more than two years of age to get sick
from parvovirus. Rather, puppies are the most severely infected by
the disease, and without appropriate medical attention, they may not
survive the illness. However, there is a vaccine against parvovirus
that should be given to puppies as a series early in their lives,
and repeated every year thereafter. With appropriate medical
attention, most of these dogs will survive, but the cost of
treatment is much more expensive than the cost of proper
vaccination. In addition, keeping the environment free of feces can
deter the spread of parvovirus, as feces can remain infective within
grounds for several months.
Clinical Signs: Clinical signs include diarrhea that may contain
blood, vomiting, depression, anorexia, dehydration, weight loss,
abdominal discomfort, and sometimes fever with sepsis, or bacteria
within the bloodstream. The diarrhea sometimes will be absent for
the first 24 to 48 hours of illness. Bloodwork results may reveal a
neutropenia, or low numbers of white blood cells, and
hypoalbuminemia, which is a decreased amount of a protein called
albumin within the blood.
Symptoms:
See clinical signs.
Description: Parvovirus is known clinically as canine
parvovirus type 2. Because antibodies against the disease from the
mother begin to decline when the puppy reaches six to 16 weeks of
age, younger dogs that have not been vaccinated against the disease
are at a greater risk for severe infection.
Parvovirus is transmitted when a dog ingests the feces of another
dog that has the infection and is shedding the virus in its feces.
Once within the animal's system, the virus typically causes clinical
signs to develop five to 12 days after infection. The virus then
spreads throughout the dog's system, destroying all of the rapidly
dividing cells, including white and red blood cells, which are
produced in the bone marrow, and cells within the intestines that
absorb and digest food and fluids.
The virus causes the animal to become very sick from complications
such as secondary bacterial infections and severe dehydration.
Animals will also have diarrhea that may contain blood, vomiting,
and fever. Supportive and aggressive medical care will often save
the animal, but the cost of medical treatment is much greater than
the cost of protecting the dog with appropriate vaccines. Without
immediate medical attention, a dog can die from parvovirus.
Diagnosis: Often, diagnosis is suspected based on the
history and physical exam findings. A complete blood count, which
measures the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and
platelets, often will show an insufficient number of white blood
cells. A parvovirus test, performed using a fecal sample, shows the
presence of the shedding virus in the feces. Occasionally, a false
negative result can occur if the virus has not yet begun to shed in
the feces; thus, dogs that test negative often are re-tested if the
veterinarian suspects parvovirus.
Prognosis: For puppies that receive medical attention and
survive the first two or three days of treatment, the prognosis is
good to excellent. Puppies between the ages of six to 18 weeks that
do not receive treatment have a poor prognosis for survival. Older
animals have a better prognosis than puppies and tend to require a
briefer period of hospitalization. Ultimately, however, the
prognosis is dependent on the individual animal's immune system and
the degree of illness.
Transmission or Cause: Parvovirus is transmitted from an infected dog to
another dog most commonly through the fecal-oral route. The virus is
shed in the feces typically for two weeks following infection.
However, once the virus is within the environment, it can remain
infective for months. Highly contagious, parvovirus can infect any
dog that enters a contaminated area and has not had proper
vaccinations. Some dogs do not develop symptoms of parvovirus;
instead, they are carriers of the disease, shedding infective feces
for a year or more.
Treatment: The treatment of parvovirus is supportive care
because there is no cure. Fluid therapy, usually given intravenously
at a veterinary hospital, is critical in preventing dehydration and
replacing fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea. Animals
typically are hospitalized and kept on fluid therapy for several
days, until they are able to hold down water and food. Food and
drink should not be given for 24 to 72 hours to allow the intestines
time to recover. Fluids given under the skin can be beneficial as
well, but there is a risk of tissue damage and cell death, or
necrosis and infection through repeated skin injections.
A veterinarian usually will give the dog antibiotics to prevent
infection due to bacteria. Antiemetic medications, beneficial in
preventing nausea and vomiting, may be given as well. Antacids can
be given to prevent damage to the esophagus from vomiting acidic
fluids. With quick, aggressive medical therapy, the majority of
animals survive.
Prevention: The best prevention is proper sanitation of the
environment and vaccination of young puppies. Vaccines should be
given at six, nine, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Because they are more
susceptible to parvovirus, certain breeds such as Doberman
pinschers, rottweilers, pit bulls, English springer spaniels, and
Labrador retrievers will need an additional vaccine again when they
are 20 weeks of age.
Even when vaccines are administered properly and according to
schedule, animals may become infected by parvovirus if they live
within a contaminated environment. Because antibodies from the
mother can inactivate the vaccine until the puppy is 16 to 18 weeks
of age, preventing contact with infected animals or contaminated
environments is critical. The use of dilute bleach (1:32) will kill
the virus and is an effective cleaning agent. Always use cleaning
products in well-ventilated areas. Keep all infected animals in
strict isolation and prevent transmission of fecal material from one
area to another.
