Parvo kills more pet dogs in Australia every year than any other virus. In fact, in Australia a dog catches Parvo approximately every 24 minutes. The disease causes terrible vomiting and diarrhoea, followed by dehydration and sadly in many cases death, particularly in puppies.
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).
The virus affects dogs' gastrointestinal tracts and is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces (stool), environments, or people. The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs.
It's a virus that was non-existent prior to the 1980s. 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.
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.
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.
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.
How does it spread? Parvovirus is highly contagious and can stay on surfaces and in environments for a long period of time—withstanding heat, cold and humidity. Dogs can contract the virus by interacting with infected dogs, or by coming into contact with contaminated faeces, surfaces or environments.
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.
Even if your puppy is vaccinated, and has created antibodies to fight off the infection, she can still become infected with the virus. If you live in a high-risk area or have met a Parvovirus-infected dog your puppy can pick up a large amount of virus material from this interaction.
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.
How Long Should I Wait Before Taking My Puppy Outside? Due to potential outdoor biohazards, most vets will advise that pet owners wait until a puppy is at least three months old before taking them outside.
Financial hardships caused by the pandemic have also prevented many pet owners from keeping up with their companions' vaccine protocol. While life has, in many ways, gone back to normal since the early days of the pandemic, parvo cases remain on the rise in many areas.
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.
Studies have observed that if your Fido is not vaccinated, the chances of him getting parvovirus are very high, and the morbidity rate is 100%. The mortality rate of dogs with parvo is statistically 10% in adult dogs, and 91% in puppies (Appel et al. 1979; Black et al. 1979).
Products that are effective at killing parvoviruses include Rescue™ (accelerated hydrogen peroxide), potassium peroxymonosulfate (e.g., Virkon® or Trifectant®), calcium hypochlorite (e.g., Wysiwash®), bleach, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (e.g., Bruclean®).
Commonly called “parvo”, the organism is very stable in the environment, able to withstand freezing temperatures and many disinfectants to survive as long as seven months in a contaminated area.
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.
Direct contact isn't necessary for transmission — Because parvovirus can be transmitted via infected surfaces, dog-to-dog contact isn't necessary for infection. The virus can be transmitted to your puppy when she walks on a previously contaminated surface, or from shoes, clothing, or toys brought into your home.
Do not let your puppies walk outside as the risk of parvovirus and leptospirosis with unvaccinated puppies is high.
While they are now much more resilient than they were just a few weeks ago, it's still important to continue to avoid things that could make them sick. On walks, keep to paved surfaces like sidewalks and parking lots. Stay off of grass or dirt trails where the urine or feces of unvaccinated dogs are harder to avoid.
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.
Since puppies are often born in the spring and become vulnerable to the virus eight to ten weeks after birth, you often see more parvovirus outbreaks in the summer and early fall.
What causes parvovirus, how is it spread? 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.