what is parvo?

Answer 1

What is Parvo?
Parvo is a viral disease that can be fatal, especially to puppies who are no longer being protected by antibodies in their mother’s milk. For some reason, Rottweilers and Dobermans are especially susceptible to the virus. Parvo is not dangerous to cats or humans.

How is it transmitted?
The Parvo virus is transmitted through the feces, and can remain stable in the environment for several months. A susceptible dog can contract the disease simply by walking where and infected dog has walked. People can carry it into their homes on shoes and clothing. Most cleaning solutions will not destroy the virus. This disease is very aggressive and very serious.

How does it affect dogs?
The disease attacks the dog’s digective system within 7-10 days from exposure. It causes the dog to lose its appetite and drool at first. The dog may also show signs of fever and depression. This is quickly followed by vomiting and diarrhea. If not treated immediately, the virus will cause the lining of the intestines to slough, causing painful, bloody diarrhea. Death usually occurs quickly from dehydration and septicemia, an infection of the blood that occurs when intestinal bacteria enter the bloodstream.

How is it treated?
If treatment is delayed by even a day or two, the risk of death becomes very high. Quick diagnosis is the key. The traditional treatment consists of IV fluids and drugs to relieve the vomiting and diarrhea. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are given to treat possible septicemia. Recently a second treatment option is under investigation. Studies with the human drug Tamiflu are showing exciting promise to effectively and inexpensively treat the disease. If your vet diagnoses Parvo, discuss these treatment options immediately.

How can you prevent a Parvo infection?
The only way to prevent Parvo is a complete series of vaccinations according to your doctor’s recommendation. This is VITAL for the life of young puppies and is required for dogs adopted from Friends for Life at the Haven. Adult dogs require an annual booster vaccination.
You must take extra precautions to control Parvo in the environment with puppies that have not yet been fully vaccinated. They should not be brought into public places until they have completed their entire series of vaccinations. They should only be walked inside their own fenced yard. Apartment dwellers should avoid places frequented by other dogs. Avoid hand-me-down toys and supplies. Food and water bowls should be washed in a solution of 1 cup chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of water. (NOTE: Only chlorine bleach will kill the virus. Other disinfectants will not work.) Use the same solution to disinfect floors and other surfaces. Clean up stools in your yard. It is important to note that these precautions only lessen the likelihood that your puppy will contract Parvo. Until he completes all required vaccinations, he remains at risk.

Answer 2

RE: Does a parvo shot treatment parvo or avoid parvo? I bought a brand new dog approximately three months in the past and I took him to the vet once more for a determine up just lately. The vet mentioned hes pleasant and the whole thing, then went forward and gave him a parvo shot. He doesn't have parvo, however I used to be curious does the parvo shot treatment parvo or avoid him from ever getting parvo?

Answer 3

RE: Does a parvo shot medication parvo or prevent parvo? I bought a new puppy about three months in the past and that i took him to the vet once more for a examine up just lately. The vet stated hes first-class and the whole lot, then went forward and gave him a parvo shot. He doesn't have parvo, but I was once curious does the parvo shot healing parvo or avoid him from ever getting parvo?

Answer 4

Parvo" is a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system. It causes dogs and puppies to not be able to absorb nutrients or liquids. Puppies are especially prone to it because they have an immature immune system. When dogs and puppies contract parvo, they often have diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy. Usually they stop eating and develop a bloody, foul-smelling, liquid stool.

Symptoms usually begin with a high fever, lethargy, depression, and loss of appetite. Secondary symptoms appear as severe gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting and bloody diarrhea. In many cases, dehydration, shock, and death follow.

Parvovirus is characterized by severe, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, high fever and lethargy. The diarrhea is particularly foul smelling and is sometimes yellow in color. Parvo can also attack a dog's heart causing congestive heart failure. This complication can occur months or years after an apparent recovery from the intestinal form of the disease. Puppies who survive parvo infection usually remain somewhat un-healthy and weak for life.

If you have had an animal with parvo. Make sure to sterilize everything. The Virus can exist for up to nine months in just about any enviorment.

Answer 5

CANINE PARVOVIRUS: WHAT IS IT?

Parvoviruses are a large group; almost every mammal species (including humans) seems to have its own parvovirus. Fortunately, each virus is pretty specific about what animals it can infect (i.e. the pig parvovirus will not infect people, the canine parvovirus will not infect cats etc.) The canine parvovirus will affect most members of the dog family (wolves, coyotes, foxes etc.)

Parvoviruses are smaller than most viruses and consist of a protein coat (a "capsid") and a single strand of DNA inside. It is hard to believe that such a simply constructed organism could be so deadly; however, this virus has proved especially effective at infecting rapidly dividing host cells such as intestinal cells, bone marrow cells, cells of the lymph system, and fetal cells. Parvoviruses are not enveloped in fat the way many other viruses are. This makes parvoviruses especially hardly in the environment and difficult to disinfect away.

While the parvoviruses of other species have been well known for decades, the canine parvovirus is a relative newcomer. The original canine parvovirus, discovered in 1967 and called "CPV-1," did not represent much of a medical threat except to newborn puppies but by 1978, a new variant, "CPV-2" appeared in the U.S. This newer version seems to represent a mutation from the feline parvovirus (which is more commonly known as the "feline distemper virus"). Because this virus was (and is) shed in gigantic numbers by infected animals and because this virus is especially hardy in the environment, worldwide distribution of the virus rapidly occurred. At this time, the virus is considered to be "ubiquitous," meaning that it is present in EVERY ENVIRONMENT unless regular disinfection is applied.

Answer 6

por-virus, a disease that most usually in contacted by puppies. It is more often than not deadly. If you think your pup has ,get him to a vet NOW. Otherwise he doesn't have much of a chance. If you don't think the pup has parvo, get a 7 in 1 shot in him today. Sign's of parvo are diarreah, vomiting, lack of appitite, and lethargy. Good luck,

Answer 7

IT DOESNT JUST AFFECT DOGS!!

Parvovirus, commonly called parvo, is a genus of the Parvoviridae family linear, non-segmented single stranded DNA viruses with an average genome size of 5 kbp. Parvoviruses are some of the smallest viruses found in nature (hence the name, from Latin parvus meaning small).

Many types of mammalian species have a strain of parvovirus associated with them. A parvovirus tends to be specific about the taxon of animal it will infect. That is, a canine parvovirus will affect dogs, wolves, and foxes, but will not infect cats.

Humans have their own strain of parvovirus which can spread rapidly from person to person.

Answer 8

Parvo is a very serious disease. It's a viral disease and is often fetal. It is one of the most dreaded diseases for puppies. It is a disease that grows in rapidly dividing cells. The intestinal lining has the biggest concentration of rapidly dividing cells in a puppies body, the virus attacks and kills these cells, causing diarrhea, depression and suppression of white blood cells. In very young puppies it can infect the heart muscle and lead to sudden death. It causes dogs and puppies to not be able to absorb nutrients or liquids. In many cases, dehydration, shock and death follow. It is the most viral illness of dogs at the present time. More common in puppies than dogs. For some unknown reason it seems to target black and tan puppies more. Dobermans, dachshunds, etc. they succumb to parvo faster and with less chance of recovery than other breeds. Parvo leads to extreme nausea, severe diarrhea, loss of blood into the intestines, absorption of toxins and **** into the blood stream, severe dehydration, electroylyts imbalances and quite frequently death despite aggressive treatment. Some parvo cases are more severe than others and the duration of the disease varies from one to seven days. Some puppies are fine in the morning and are dead that evening. Others slowly get worse over several days and then are touch and go for several more days before either dying or recovering. Puppies have a 50 - 50 chance of survival. Puppies that survive parvo infection usually remain somewhat unhealthy and weak for life. I had two dachshund puppies that came down with parvo in November 2004. Sisters,
Hoggs and Midge, sunday evening they were sick. I took them into the vet Monday morning. The vet gave them antibotics and sent them home. Tuesday they were no better, so I returned them to the vet. The vet told me that they were going to begin an aggressive treatment, giving them an iv,. etc. Wednesday morning I called to find out how my puppies were doing and the office worker told me that the vet would do nothing until I put 300.00 dollar deposit down. I was broke, so I spent the day trying to get a hold of someone to borrow the money from. I didn't have a phone, so I walked to the phone booth over and over that day. At 5 pm I found someone at home, borrowed the money. I went to pick up Hoggs the next morning, because she was better. They told me that the vet wanted to talk to me, so I waited. He told me that my Midge didn't make it. Midge died on November 12, 2004. I was very upset and told that vet that he did not care about Midge all he cared about was that money. He should have told us Tuesday about the deposit. He told me that the vaccine is cheap and that I should have vaccinated my puppies. I blame myself and the vet. I miss my Midge, she was the joy of my life. I no longer use that vet. I have a great vet now. Midge would be here today if I would have used the vet I have now. I vaccinate my puppies early now. I pay for the shots even for the puppies that live in other homes. That lesson was the hardest and heart breaking I had to learn. It cost Midge her life and I will never forgive myself. Midge and Hoggs are black and tan. Midge was only 8 months old when she died of parvo. The life she had she lived every moment of it. I have never known a happier puppy than my Midge. She lived more than most people do that live to 80. I had Midge creamated. I miss her every single day and I imagine that I will for the rest of my life. Vaccinate your puppies. We can prevent this horrible disease from killing our puppies.

Answer 9

A very nasty virus that kills pets. It is very aggressive in nature and symptoms will include lazy and sleepy all the time and then bursts of energy. I have sadly had a puppy that had this virus and it was a very costly experience and after all the money and time and watching her in pain she died. I hope that you are just asking a simple question and not researching what your pet has.

Answer 10

it's a virus, that can kill a dog, and is very contagious, the dog will have vomit and diarrhea and won't be able to hold down food, if your dog has that TAKE HIM TO THE VET, parvo is only in dogs, it's called something different in cats for example it is panleukopenia, and it's not as common as it is in dogs.