Parvovirus
What is Parvovirus
Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes severe illness and death in dogs.
The virus damages the gut lining of the intestines, causing severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
Whats worse is that the virus also attacks the infection fighting cells inside the bone marrow, which weakens the immune system making it very difficult for dogs to recover.
Unfortunately puppies that are under six months of ages are more at risk as their immune system aren’t as well developed making them less able to fight the virus.
How do dogs get Parvo?
The virus is passed in the faeces of infected dogs and still sheds for a couple of weeks after their symptoms have cleared up.
The virus can survive in the environment for months even years, like with all viruses it can be spread on our shoes and clothes, dog leads, bowls and our hands.
It is easy to see how it has spread so rapidly.
Symptoms of Parvo
Servere diarrhoea its has a certain foul smell and often very bloody
Vomiting
lethargy
Off their food
Abdominal pain
Diagnosis
There is a Parvo test available where a sample of poo is tested but other than that we tend to air on the side of caution and barrier nurse these patients and treat the patient symptomatically see below.
Treatment
There is no cure, so dogs with Parvo need intensive care and medications to control their symptoms while their body tries to fight the infection.
Treatment usually includes:
A fluid drip this helps hydration and replaces the salts and sugars lost in diahorrea and vomiting.
Antibiotics are given in to the dogs vein every 8 hours.
Antisickness medicines given once per day intravenously
Tube feeding - A tube is inserted into the patients nose and down to the stomach. Nutrition is particularly important in Parvo patients to help keep the guts working and to meet nutritional needs especially as most the cases are puppies.
A drug that helps increase the movement/contractions of the stomach and intestines is given.
Strong pain relief such a opioids are given along with other forms of pain relief
If we suspect your dog may have parvovirus then they will be barrier nursed, barrier nursing means we where protective clothing equipment to ensure we don’t not pass the virus to other pets. Aprons, gloves, bedding and liners are thrown away in a special clinical waste bag that is incinerated. The infected dogs will be placed and nursed round the clock in the isolation ward away from other pets.
Regular checks of their temperature is recorded some patients feel cold as their circulation is poor other patients may have fevers.
Heart rate is monitored this can inform us if they are going in to shock or if their electrolytes not right.
Respiratory rate this monitors their breathing.
We also check the colour of the pets gums are they pale or brick red this information is vital and can change the course of treatment.
Hydration levels are checked regularly and a feeding plan is calculated for the tube feeding every couple of hours.
Blood glucose (blood sugar) is checked.
We can also check blood under a microscope to see if there are any white blood cells (infection fighting cells) This test is very useful if we are considering euthanasia. If we have patient that has been poorly for a long time that we feel is suffering we may have to make a decision with the owner to peacefully euthanise the dog rather than carry on with treatment. This is particularly difficult especially as I was explaining most cases are puppies.
The kennel needs to be cleaned and kept dry.
The isolation ward needs to be throughly cleaned regularly.
Caring for a dog recovering from parvo
Your dog will still be infectious for two to four weeks after they have recovered so its vital that you keep them away from other dogs and public spaces during this time.
Feeding bland food little but often so you aren’t overloading them with big quantities that they may vomit back up but smaller easily digestible food more more frequently so still meeting their nutritional needs. Water much the same encourage water intake little but frequently.
Give your dog more opputinty to go to the toilet and clean up/disinfect to help prevent the spread of infection.
Rest and recovery will be slow.
Other pets - Other pets that are up to date with their vaccines are at a lower risk of contracting the virus. If you have any unvaccinated pets, ensure you get them vaccinated stariagt away and keep them completely separate from your poorly dog for at least one month after they have recovered and in this time disinfect everything. Parvo can remain in the environment for years.
Don’t bring any unvaccinated dogs into your home unless they are fully vaccinated (especially puppies)
Bath - Once your dog is feeling well enough bath them to help remove virus in their fur towel dry them well and throw away the towel.
Vaccines - Once your dog has fully recovered from parvovirus get them vaccinated and remember to get their booster once per year to remain fully up to date with their vaccines.
An important note from me Your dog is NOT up to date with their vaccines if they have not had yearly boosters
Preventing Parvo
Vaccination is the best and only way to prevent parvovirus infection the dog requires a course of injections, one injection followed by another 3 weeks later some vet practices even do a 3rd vaccine now. It may change depending on what brand of vaccine your vet practice uses. A follow up booster is needed yearly if you accidentally let this lapse then the course would need to be restarted.
If you are rehoming a dog from a shelter make sure the dog is up to date with their vaccines.
If you are buying a puppy you must buy from a a responsible breeder. Make sure you see their siblings with their mam in the place they were raised on one or more occasions. All the puppies should be bright and healthy and their mam should be up to date with her vaccines.
Taking a new puppy out - It is not safe for unvaccinated puppies to go out for a walk and meet other dogs, you should wait one - two weeks after their second injection. You can however let them in your garden as long as you know there hasn’t been any dogs with parvovirus or unvaccinated dogs in it.
Carry your dog in public places - Don’t put them on the groud
We realise that it is super important to socialise your puppy only enrol them on to puppy classes when you know they are fully vaccinated.
If you have unfortunately lost a pet due to this illness please ensure that any pets must be fully vaccinated before coming into your home, due to the virus been able to last in the environment for years and with it been difficult to disinfect soft furnishings and carpet etc any unvaccinated pets would be at risk.
Lastly a note from me just to say that nursing these patients is really distressing the patients are really depressed really sick they pass gut lining in their diarrhoea. Some adopt the prey position this is when their head hangs low and bottom is arched in the air it happens when they have severe pain in their tummy. The survival rate is 50/50 and sometimes we have to call it a day and end their suffering by euthanising them with the owners consent which is extremely upsetting. As a nurse it does make me what to quit and I get frustrated because their is a vaccine that prevents it!
Sorry for the sad blog I promise to write a chirpy blog next time but I hope you’ve found this blog informative.
I will post a cheat sheet/fact sheet so that we can all share and spread the word and knowledge in a hope to get more pets vaccinated.
Cheryl xx
