Parvovirus, or Parvo, is a viral
disease that affects dogs of all ages, but most commonly puppies.
Parvo can have serious consequences for a dog, including death.
Parvovirus grows rapidly in a dog's intestines, attacking and
killing the rapidly dividing cells that live there. As the virus
kills these cells, the dog will experience crippling diarrhea
and the production of white blood cells will be greatly slowed
or stopped altogether. In young puppies, Parvo can affect the
heart as well and lead to rapid death.
The symptoms of Parvovirus begin with lethargy,
depression, and fever. The dog will loose its appetite and will
progress fairly quickly to vomiting and diarrhea. Once the infection
reaches the stage of causing vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration
and death usually follow. Parvo is transmitted and carried by
dogs. The feces and vomit of an infected animal will carry the
virus. The virus itself is quite adaptable and resilient, sometimes
surviving outside the infected dog's body for up to nine months.
Occasionally, and adult dog can carry the Parvovirus and show
no signs of illness, but instead acting as a vessel to infect
all other dogs it comes into contact with.
There is no known cure for Parvo. Dogs that
become infected will die quickly of dehydration if not treated
immediately. The treatment of Parvo consists of transfusions
and repeated hydration by giving intravenous fluids. With prompt
treatment, the mortality rate of dogs infected with Parvo is
about 20 percent. Without treatment, approximately 80 percent
of dogs infected with the virus will die. Parvovirus is a very
serious disease that has grim consequences. Although dogs of
any breed can be infected, dogs with black and tan coloring
seem to be the most prone to infection. All dogs should be vaccinated
for Parvo starting at 6 weeks of age and continuing until 20
weeks of age. The proper immunization is the best way to prevent
your dog from becoming infected with Parvovirus.
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