The best household cleaner to use to kill parvovirus is bleach (1 part bleach to 30 parts water). It should be used on hard surfaces including tiles, concrete, paving bottoms of shoes etc – leave the bleach on the surface at least 10-15 minutes. Anything that can be washed in bleach should be.
Outside of your dog, the virus can survive indoors for at least one month, and outdoors it can survive for many months and even a year under the right conditions. Use a cleaner proven to kill parvovirus. Talk to your vet about the best way to remove the parvovirus from your home environment or kennels.
Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water will remove the virus. Specific disinfectants need to be used to remove parvovirus from the environment, including toys, clothing and cages.
Infection with parvovirus occurs when a puppy is exposed to contaminated feces or to an object, such as shoes or a sidewalk, which has been contaminated by feces. The virus can live on contaminated surfaces or clothing for up to 5-6 months. Parvovirus becomes widespread throughout the body in 3-4 days.
The Spread of Canine Parvovirus 'Parvo'
The disease is so infectious that even a human that has unknowingly been in contact with an infected dog can spread the virus to puppies and other dogs just by touching them. Which means that an innocent pat on the head can become the beginning of a life-threatening condition.
The parvovirus is not airborne, but nearly all surfaces can carry it, including human skin. After an individual has been exposed to the disease, an infestation can occur on the ground, on surfaces in kennels, on their hands, and on their clothing. A dog can also carry contaminated fecal material on its fur or paws.
For areas where you can safely use bleach, dilute household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) using 1 part bleach to 32 parts water (that's 1/2 cup per gallon of water). The diluted bleach must have ten minutes of contact time with the surface, which means saturating the area or continually spraying for ten minutes.
Begin with using straight hot water and steam clean the entire carpet. This will lift the stain off the surface. After you have completed the first surface washing, focus next on removing the stains. Use either a commercial pet stain remover or you can use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
Parvo is an environmental pathogen transferred by a fecal-oral cycle that is so infectious that even after parvo-infected dog poop is washed away by rain or snow, the virus can remain in the soil, local veterinarians explained.
Because parvovirus is very contagious and hardy in its environment, proper disinfection is crucial. Dogs with parvovirus should be isolated during their treatment, and for up to 2 weeks after recovery. Most common household cleaners will not kill parvovirus.
How long are dogs with parvo contagious? Adult dogs with parvo will remain contagious for around 4-5 days and puppies can remain contagious for up to 10 days after a clinical recovery.
Other cleaners have also been shown to be effective in killing parvovirus but are not as inexpensive or readily available to pet owners as bleach. Wysiwash®, Bruclean®, Rescue®, and Trifectant® are just some of these products.
To kill canine parvovirus on hard non-porous surfaces, prepare a disinfecting solution of ½ cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach and one gallon of water. Pre-wash the areas and then mop or wipe with the disinfecting solution. Let stand for ten minutes, then rinse thoroughly and air dry.
If a puppy is exposed to canine parvovirus during this gap in protection, it may become ill. An additional concern is that immunity provided by a mother's milk may interfere with an effective response to vaccination. This means even vaccinated puppies may occasionally be infected by parvovirus and develop disease.
Question: “How can I disinfect an area contaminated by a dog infected with Parvovirus? Incorrect Answer: “There are many Parvovirus disinfectants on the market, but regular old bleach is still 100% effective against Parvovirus. The dilution for bleach is one part bleach to 30 parts water.
The Parvo virus can live nine months to a year in favorable conditions such as dirt, concrete, and soil. It can live up to six months in fabric and carpets.
Now, for most dog owners in Australia, parvovirus is a disease that is part of their pet's regular vaccination regime. Since its emergence, parvovirus remains a leading cause of enteritis (small intestine inflammation) in dogs, despite effective vaccines.
Can the parvovirus be passed from dog to human? Human to dog? Because the parvovirus that affects humans is different than the type that affects dogs – no – the virus cannot be spread from pet to person.
Can a dog get parvo twice? Once a dog has recovered from parvo, it is unlikely that they will contract the virus again. The immunity from the virus lasts for several years, protecting your dog from reinfection. It is theoretically possible for a dog to get parvo twice, but such chances are very slim.
Some find that there is a distinct metallic smell to feces infected with parvovirus. If left untreated, parvo cases can escalate quickly and dehydrate the dog to the point of no return.
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.
Among the halogens, sodium hypochlorite is useful against parvoviruses, which are resistant to several other disinfectants [7, 8], and it is commonly used to decontaminate clinics and kennels.
The best and most effective disinfectant against viruses (including parvoviruses) is BLEACH. One part bleach is mixed with 30 parts water and is applied to bowls, floors, surfaces, toys, bedding, and anything contaminated that is colorfast or for which color changes are not important.
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.