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With the occasional outbreaks of the canine parvovirus in dogs, it is important every dog owner to know about parvo in dogs, and what indications to look for if they suspect their family pet has this very contagious disease and what to do about it.
Preventing Parvo in Dogs
There are a few symptoms to watch for if you suspect the virus of parvo in dogs has infected your beloved pet. The dog will be lethargic, his stool will be very loose and bloody, a high fever, drastic loss of weight, vomiting, and anorexia. Yes, it is as serious as it sounds, so if you see these signs, immediately take the dog to your vet or the nearest pet hospital if after hours. It is truly a matter of life or death for your pup.
Parvo in dogs can be prevented with shots from your vet. According to the following article found in DogParvoSymptoms.net, these vaccinations should begin when the dog is still a puppy. Ideally at the age of 6 to 8 weeks old is the recommended age for most breeds.
Vaccinations should start after the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old. Up until that point, a puppy is typically protected against most sicknesses because its mother’s anti-bodies are still flowing through it’s blood. But now it has to build up its own system of protection.
The initial shot is followed by booster shots in the following weeks, followed by a yearly one after that to keep the protection up. Unless your dog is of a particularly susceptible breed, it’s probably safe to discontinue the booster shots after a few years.
There are several ways your dog can contract this virus. Normally parvo is transmitted to another dog through contact with a dog already infected, as well as by your dog coming in contact with the stool of an infected dog. Your dog does not have to actually step or roll in the infected stool as the parvo in dogs virus is so contagious all a dog needs to do is “sniff” the infected stool and he or she can become infected.
You can also bring this virus into your dog’s environment by way of your shoes if you have stepped into infected dog feces. The only known way to kill the virus is with bleach so take all the precautions you can when dealing with parvo in dogs.
Have you ever had a dog with parvo? Please let our readers know how you dealt with this deadly disease by leaving your story below. Also, feel free to share this article with others.
