My puppy is recovering from Parvo. For how long will he continue to be contagious and shedding the virus?

Question

The vet tech told us to keep him confined to an area for 7-10 days until he is no longer shedding the virus, but it is killing us keeping him in there. She said we shouldn't handle him or wash up extremely well if we do for the next 7-10 days. I haven't seen anything like this on the net, is this the normal course of treatment?

Yes, they told me about cleaning everything with bleach solution and I did, but I thought after I brought him home, after only 2 days at the vet, he would be okay to run around the house and be normal, but the tech said, no, keep him isolated in a place where we can clean up w/ bleach after 7-10 days. We only had him for a week and he is only 10 weeks now. I realize he can't get it, but we don't want to spread it to other people's dogs either, but I can't stand to keep him confined.

Answer 1

My puppy is now recovering from Parvo and we have to hand feed her because she is too weak still to eat out of a bowl on her own. (Pray that she makes it....She is really something special to me....I couldn't stand to loose a second dog....)

Our vet told us that the virus can live up to 6 months in the soil, but can be killed in your home with a bleach/water solution.

The dog sheds the virus through its feces for up to 3 weeks. (You have to pick up the poop and flush it if possible....if not the bleach solution can help kill the odors from it.)

You should wash thoroughly after handling the dog, but the virus cannot be passed to humans or other dogs as long as they are vaccinated for parvo.

Answer 2

I had 2 dogs get parvo, unfortunately they died. It's kind of like Feline Leukemia which is very very contagious. We couldn't get another puppy for a long time after those dogs passed because the virus would still be in our house on our carpets. It has a bad smell, a really weird smell when they go to the bathroom or get sick on your carpet. It's good that your vet is being so cautious. It can't hurt you but it would hurt any other dog you had or brought into your home. We had those 2 puppies, and 2 other adult dogs. Our adult dogs didn't get the virus because they had a vaccine. They might have had a little bit of diarrhea but nothing major, nothing serious. Good luck.

Answer 3

When we had a puppy with parvo and when we got parvo pups in the vet office I used to work at (I was only a receptionist), the vet isolated the pups and kept them on iv fluids. For home care, if you've got other dogs in the home, the isolation is absolutely necessary even though it's difficult and breaks your heart. I don't know about not cleaning up, though, because even as a receptionist at a vet clinic I was occasionally assigned to clean up the parvo room with bleach even while the pups were in there. I just wasn't supposed to actually clean up the puppys all that much and had to clean myself with bleach water really well before going anywhere else int he clinic.

Answer 4

I used to work for a shelter, and yes, the dog should be quarantined. Parvovirus is VERY hard to kill. Any area that the dog has been in should be disinfected, especially areas where the dog has vomited or deficated. You can use a solution of bleach and water, or a disinfectant called (I think) lemon-quat on hard surfaces. You should also avoid introducing another dog into your home for quite some time to avoid passing on the virus, especially one that isn't vaccinated or is under a year old.

Answer 5

a dog with parvo is bad my dog had it we had to burn everythingthat could not be washed in bleach. the parvo will stay in your yard up to 10 yrs this came from my vet we had to make sure any other dogs we got has had it's shots before it could bein the yard. Your lucky mine didn't make it.but i still wash my new puppies things once a week with bleach. And you can even carry parvo to other peoples property. Don't know if this will help but it was told to me from my vet.

Answer 6

my puppy had parvo and i took her home after 2 days of being in the hospital. i was told to keep her away from the backyard for a year (that was where she always pottied). I handled her when she was in the hospital. what kind of dog is it? My was a pug and she was 5 months old.

Answer 7

Quat solution sprayed onto anything you can t bleach will kill the virus. The medication Tamiflu an antiviral is essential for survival. It is a RX but well worth the cost. Keeping hydration ,antiemetic, antibiotics and Carafate for intestinal tract.

Answer 8

Your puppy is lucky to have survived it, and it's very contagious. I know it's hard to lock up your new pup, but it's in everyone's best interest. Wash everything he comes in contact with well.

Answer 9

i had to do this with my dog and it was complete hell, he lived in the bathroom for 10 days. but he and i got through it and he is now the happiest dog on the planet. i would go in there and feed him and wash the bathroom daily in bleach solution and then immediately shower and wash my clothes with bleach so i wouldn't spread it to our other dog (who had to be confined to the opposite end of the house). when it was all over we were all fine and he was very happy to have the run of the house again.

Answer 10

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is the most dangerous and contagious virus that affects unprotected dogs. When it was first discovered in 1978, most of the puppies under five months old and 2% to 3% of older dogs died from CPV. But subsequently a parvo vaccine has helped control its spread, and CPV infection is now considered most threatening to puppies between the time of weaning and six months of age. Adult dogs can also contract the virus, although it's relatively uncommon. All breeds of dog can be infected, but Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers are more susceptible and have less chance of recovering.


CPV affects only dogs, and cannot be transmitted to humans or other species. However, other animals and humans can carry it to dogs. Dogs who become infected have a 50-50 chance of survival. If they survive the first four days, they will usually recover rapidly, and become immune to the virus for life. Most puppies will die without medical treatment.



The source of CPV infection is fecal waste from infected dogs. It has been diagnosed anywhere groups of dogs are found: dog shows, obedience trials, breeding and boarding kennels, pet shops, animal shelters, parks, and playgrounds. Dogs that spend their time confined to a house or yard and are not in contact with other dogs have much less chance of exposure to CPV. It's easily transmitted via the hair or feet of infected dogs, and also by contaminated objects such as cages or shoes. CPV is hardy and can remain in feces-contaminated ground for five months or more if conditions are favorable. Although most disinfectants cannot kill it, chlorine bleach is quite effective. There may be other means of transmission of CPV, but they are not known at this time.


Two forms of CPV have been identified: diarrhea syndrome and cardiac syndrome.


Diarrhea syndrome, or enteritis, has an incubation period of five to fourteen days. Dogs with enteritis act like they are in extreme pain. Early symptoms are depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, high fever, and severe diarrhea. Feces can be either grayish or fluid and bloody. Rapid dehydration is a danger, and dogs may continue to vomit and have diarrhea until they die, usually three days after onset of symptoms. Others may recover without complications and have no long-term problems. Puppies can die suddenly of shock as early as two days into the illness.


The second form of CPV is cardiac syndrome, or myocarditis, which can affect puppies under three months old. There is no diarrhea because the virus multiplies rapidly in muscle cells of the immature heart. Puppies may stop suckling and then collapse and die within minutes or days. No effective treatment is available for cardiac syndrome, and surviving puppies may have permanently damaged hearts.


The initial diagnosis of CPV can usually be made by a veterinarian after observing the dog’s symptoms; however, vomiting and diarrhea can be caused by a number of diseases. The rapid spread of illness in a group of dogs is another indication that CPV may be the culprit. A more definitive diagnosis of CPV can be made by testing feces for the virus, either at the veterinarian's office or through an outside laboratory.


Treatment for CPV should be started immediately. Hospitalization is necessary, except in relatively mild cases. Dogs must be kept warm. Dehydration is treated by replacing electrolytes and fluids and controlling vomiting and diarrhea. Antibiotics are used to prevent secondary infections. No drug is yet available that will kill the virus.


The easiest way to prevent CPV in adult dogs has been through annual vaccinations, although increasingly, veterinarians are recommending that vaccinations be administered every three years. Puppies need a series of booster shots, because of uncertainty about when maternal immunity wanes and the time the vaccine can provide puppies with their own immunity. This may be as early as six weeks of age or as late as fourteen weeks of age. If there is still a high level of maternal antibody present in the puppy, it will interfere with a vaccination. Veterinarians recommend that puppies get boosters every three weeks until they are sixteen weeks old, and they should be kept separate from unvaccinated dogs. Vaccinations given to puppies as well as adults also protect against other serious canine diseases like distemper, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and coronavirus.


Parvo vaccinations are usually required for participation in puppy obedience classes and for boarding your dog at kennels. A vaccination does not guarantee that your puppy will be safe from the virus, but it's good protective insurance.

A parvo-infected dog can shed the virus in his feces, which makes him extremely contagious to other dogs. The following precautions will help prevent the spread of this disease.


· Keep the dog isolated from all other dogs for at least a month after recovery.

· Pick up all the dog's stools in your yard.

· Use chlorine bleach and water to clean food and water bowls. Wash the dog's bedding in bleach and hot water. Disinfect all areas that the dog has been in, including linoleum floors, crates, etc.

· If you have any other dogs who are two years old or younger, or who have not had parvo vaccinations, take them to your veterinarian immediately for a booster shot.

· Feed your dog a bland diet until he recovers. Reintroduce regular food slowly.


A healthy puppy or adult dog should never be allowed contact with the feces of other dogs when walking or playing in public. Dispose of waste material properly and try to keep lawns, sidewalks, and street gutters clear of feces from neighborhood dogs.