Vaccination is the best way to protect your dog from Parvovirus. Puppies have a weakened immune system when they're young and, once weaned, their maternal antibodies start to decrease. Vaccinating your pet at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 14-16 weeks helps build immunity as these maternal antibodies drop off.
The best way to prevent parvo is early vaccination. Puppies and younger dogs are most at risk. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea, severe vomiting, lethargy, fever and weakness. Puppies need to be kept isolated from unsafe areas where dogs congregate (such as parks or kennels) until they've completed their vaccinations.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
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).
Parvovirus is highly contagious, meaning that it spreads very quickly amongst animals who are not vaccinated against it. The virus itself is contracted by coming into direct contact with an infected canine, or indirectly, such as by sniffing an infected dogs feces.
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.
Parvo is a preventable disease, but even vaccinated dogs are not 100% protected from the virus. Vaccines for the parvovirus are recommended for all puppies and are usually given in a series of three shots when the pup is between 6-to-8 weeks old, again at 10-to-12 weeks, and at 14-to-16 weeks.
If possible, flush the yard with water and allow to dry. Then apply a disinfectant that is effective with organic material, such as AHP or potassium peroxymonosulfate. These can be used with a pesticide sprayer or hose-end sprayer at the proper dilution to saturate the outside area.
Potty Breaks for Young Puppies
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. Since young puppies have tiny bladders, you'll have to take them out for potty breaks often.
Parvovirus is found in any environment (lawns, homes, kennels, dog parks, etc.) and comes from infected dogs that excrete the virus in their vomit or feces. Puppies are more likely to get parvo because they are more likely investigate everything on the ground.
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.
Parvo doesn't necessarily come on suddenly, but the signs and symptoms may seem to develop and worsen quickly if left untreated.
There is no cure for parvo. Your vet will offer your puppy supportive care over the course of the illness, treating symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, and making sure that your puppy gets adequate nutrition.
But there are very real dangers associated with vaccination and over-vaccination. Not to mention, vaccination doesn't always result in the outcome we are looking for. In fact, data from the Virbac Disease Watchdog shows that 28% of vaccinated puppies and 11% of vaccinated adults still get parvo.
Vaccinations stimulate the immune system to make a response. In a disease that destroys the immune system, there is nothing left to fight the disease. This is how some dogs can become infected with Parvovirus, and it's not related to vaccine failure or lack of vaccine immunity although it may initially appear this way.
Until his vaccinations are complete, only take him to areas you can be certain are safe. Avoid places that are used by unknown dogs, and keep him away from stagnant puddles. Don't visit dog parks. If you have your own fenced yard, you're in luck.
Puppy vaccinations
The first core vaccine should be given at 6-8 weeks of age, then a booster vaccine given every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. The final vaccination should not be given any earlier than 16 weeks of age [1, 2].
Different dog breeds have different energy levels and rates of growth; the growth plates in their joints close at different ages. But do schedule play and exercise time into your puppy's day: a walk around the neighborhood, playing with toys, and time spent bonding go a long way toward expending energy.
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.
Even if your veterinarian does everything right, there is still a chance that your puppy won't survive parvo. The near-death signs of parvo include severe lethargy, continuous bloody diarrhea, anorexia, and bloody vomiting. You may not want to admit it to yourself, but this is the point of no return.
Extremely resilient, parvovirus can survive in the environment for up to nine years, including the ground and soil. It can also withstand most household cleaning products (bleach is an exception), heat, cold and humidity, all of which makes the spread of the virus is hard to control.
Can vaccinated dogs get parvo? Short answer: YES! Some may think once their dog is vaccinated they can't catch Parvo, but the virus has different strains and reinvents itself. So unfortunately, dogs definitely can still catch the parvovirus.
Parvo may affect dogs of all ages, but is most common in unvaccinated dogs less than one year of age. Young puppies less than five months of age are usually the most severely affected, and the most difficult to treat. Any unvaccinated puppy that shows the symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea should be tested for CPV.
Your puppy can always be susceptible to parvovirus, even after vaccination, however vaccination greatly reduces the risk of this disease.
In the U.S., people tend to get infected with parvovirus B19 more often in late winter, spring, and early summer. Mini-outbreaks of parvovirus B19 infection occur about every 3 to 4 years. Since parvovirus B19 only infects humans, a person cannot get the virus from a dog or cat.