Puppies are vaccinated against parvo at approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. They are vulnerable to the disease until they have received all three shots in their vaccination series, which means owners need to take extra precaution during this time to prevent their puppies from contracting the virus.
Puppies are at the greatest risk for parvo between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 months. Puppies can receive their parvo vaccinations at 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. They must receive a full series of vaccinations to ensure complete immunity. Puppies require a parvo booster vaccine between 14 and 16 weeks of age.
4. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Parvo can live in the ground, the grass, on bushes – pretty much anywhere (although it is not an airborne virus). Disease prevention is always less costly (and risky) than treating a condition your pet has developed.
The good news is that 85% of infected puppies who are treated go on to survive although treatment can be drawn-out and distressing. The even better news is that parvovirus in dogs can be virtually eliminated by a simple vaccine given every two to four weeks until 16 weeks of age.
Your puppy can always be susceptible to parvovirus, even after vaccination, however vaccination greatly reduces the risk of this disease.
They are vulnerable to the disease until they have received all three shots in their vaccination series, which means owners need to take extra precaution during this time to prevent their puppies from contracting the virus.
A University of Sydney study has found that canine parvovirus (CPV), a highly contagious and deadly disease that tragically kills puppies, is more prevalent than previously thought with 20,000 cases found in Australia each year, and nearly half of these cases result in death.
The first sign of parvo for puppies is often lethargy, lack of appetite, and a fever. Canines will begin to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea as the virus progresses, and can experience dehydration and a high heart rate as a result.
Parvo symptoms in puppies are often painful and severe, and can start as early as 48 hours after contact with an infectious source. Your puppy will get a high fever that leaves it with a lack of appetite. If your pup is not weaned, you will notice that he is not rushing to eat, like the rest in the litter.
Parvo poop color
The poop should start a pale yellow and gradually become darker as more blood enters the intestines. Parvo poop can go from yellowish brown to dark red, to nearly black in the later stages.
Parvovirus can survive months on surfaces such as concrete so infections can still be transmitted to new dogs after your dog is recovered. This is especially important to consider when thinking about bringing another puppy into your home, either to add to your family or even if they are just visiting.
Parvo can be found in almost any environment. It is transmitted when a susceptible dog comes in contact with the virus. This includes contact with the feces of an infected dog, or objects that contain the virus (shoes, clothes, bedding, bowls, grass, carpets, floors, etc).
Some breeders will begin potty training a puppy before they are old enough to be adopted. When you bring an eight-week-old dog home, you can start puppy house training by taking him out to go to the bathroom on a regular basis.
Parvo may affect dogs of all ages but is most common in unvaccinated dogs less than one year of age. Young puppies under five months of age are usually the most severely affected and difficult to treat. Any unvaccinated puppy showing severe vomiting or diarrhea should be tested for CPV.
Similarly, it should be safe for your puppy to meet older dogs of friends and family, provided they're fully vaccinated, haven't been exposed to unvaccinated dogs, and are known to be gentle with puppies.
Puppies usually go to new homes at the minimum age of eight weeks old when they're not fully vaccinated, so can't get fully out and about just yet. Until your puppy is fully protected by vaccination: don't allow them to mix with dogs of unknown vaccination status.
Avoid high-traffic areas, like dog parks, where the other dogs' vaccination and infection status is unknown. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends that puppies have at least one parvo vaccination seven days prior to socialization in safe settings, such as puppy classes.
“Dogs who have three to five encounters with the vaccine will typically develop the highest amount of antibodies to protect from infection,” Dr. Burch said. And while some fully-vaccinated dogs can still get parvo — remember, this is rare — the vaccine will usually keep your pup completely safe.
Do not let your puppies walk outside as the risk of parvovirus and leptospirosis with unvaccinated puppies is high.
Your puppy will vomit and have diarrhea if canine parvovirus is present in their system. Vomit may be clear or a yellow or brown color, and diarrhea will often contain blood and be a light yellow or mustard colored hue.
Symptoms of Parvo
Symptoms of intestinal parvo begin to show from three to 10 days after the infection. Some of the symptoms evident in your puppy include: Vomiting. Dehydration.
What are the first signs of parvo in a dog? Initial signs that your dog may have contracted parvo are running a fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, and anorexia. These initial signs may progress and can result in vomiting and diarrhea within two days after showing their first symptom.
Certain breeds and types of dogs appear to have a higher risk of parvovirus infection or show more severe illness once infected. These include Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Bull Terrier breeds, and Alaskan sled dogs.
Certain breeds, including Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, English Springer Spaniels, and Alaskan sled dogs, are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months old are the most at risk.