Dog Owner’s Guide To Parvovirus In Canines
Parvovirus is a diseases caused by a highly contagious and deadly virus. It can be spread to your dog when he comes direct or indirect contact with infected feces. Young puppies are typically the ones affected since older dogs have usually been vaccinated. So, what are some of the symptoms of this disease?
Signs
It normally takes about ten days for dogs to show signs of being exposed to the virus. The virus can affect the cardiac or intestinal systems. The intestinal form causes symptoms such as severe bloody vomiting and dog diarrhea. This can quickly cause dehydration and open up the dog to secondary infections.
The virus may also damage the intestinal lining. Damage to the intestinal lining may cause loss of proteins and may lead to anemia in canines. In more serious cases, toxins may be allowed to enter the bloodstream. The cardiac form of this disease causes symptoms such as cardiovascular and respiratory failure.
Diagnosis
Your dog’s symptoms will make the basis of diagnosis. Since the virus is shed in feces, a stool sample will also be analyzed. However, a false-positive can occur if your dog has been vaccinated within two weeks. To make diagnosis even more difficult, dogs can also have a false negative if the test is done too late or too early in the progression of the disease. To make a conclusive diagnosis, a complete blood count is also usually done.
Treatment
Dogs need to be treated for this disease quickly. Treatment involves administering electrolytes and fluids to help prevent dehydration. Diarrhea and vomiting can also be limited with medication. It’s also common for dogs infected with this virus to develop secondary infections. Antibiotics will help prevent this. Your dog may also need a blood transfusion if anemia develops.
It is important that you understand that there is no cure for canine parvovirus. These medications and treatments only provide support until the immune system kicks in and fights the virus. Without this treatment, your dog will die from dehydration.
All owners should know a little something about various diseases that can affect their dog. Fortunately, dog-illnesses.com provides a wealth of information on a range of these conditions. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of these conditions.
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