Parvo or distemper?

Question

My friend's dog is very sick. He shows all the symptoms of parvo. I was just looking around the internet and i came across a virus called distemper. The symptoms are similar to parvo. But when i was reading about this distemper virus the one of the symptom is diarrhea. It doesn't say bloody diarrhea and my friend's dog has bloody diarrhea. Is it possible for a dog with distemper to have bloody diarrhea also? Her dog is also coughing. Do you think is more likely parvo or distemper? Which virus has a higher chance of recovery with care from a vet? Which virus is more dangerous or deadly?

Answer 1

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 unhealthy and weak for life.
(That last sentence isn't necessarily true as I have seen puppies recover just fine using a specific remedy.)



Distemper
Early symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, and mild eye inflammation that may only last a day or two. Symptoms become more serious and noticeable as the disease progresses.

The initial symptom is fever (103ºF to 106ºF), which usually peaks 3 to 6 days after infection. The fever often goes unnoticed and may peak again a few days later. Dogs may experience eye and nose discharge, depression, and loss of appetite (anorexia). After the fever, symptoms vary considerably, depending on the strain of the virus and the dog’s immunity.

Many dogs experience gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, such as:

Conjunctivitis (discharge from the eye)
Diarrhea
Fever (usually present but unnoticed)
Pneumonia (cough, labored breathing)
Rhinitis (runny nose)
Vomiting
These symptoms are often exacerbated by secondary bacterial infections. Dogs almost always develop encephalomyelitis (an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), the symptoms of which are variable and progressive. Most dogs that die from distemper die from neurological complications such as the following:
Ataxia (muscle incoordination)
Depression
Hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as pain or touch)
Myoclonus (muscle twitching or spasm), which can become disabling
Paralysis
Paresis (partial or incomplete paralysis)
Progressive deterioration of mental abilities
Progressive deterioration of motor skills
Seizures that can affect any part of the body (One type of seizure that affects the head, and is unique to distemper, is sometimes referred to as a “chewing gum fit” because the dog appears to be chewing gum.)
Many dogs experience symptoms of the eye:

Inflammation of the eye (either keratoconjunctivitis, inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva, or chorioretinitis, inflammation of the choroid and retina)
Lesions on the retina (the innermost layer of the eye)
Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve which leads to blindness)

Both viruses are incurable, both should be considered terminal without treatment. Distemper would seem to be the worse of the two; however it is much less common than Parvo in my experience. The problem with both diseases is that without treatment they lead to a slew of other problems. As long as your friend got her dog to the vet very rapidly there's a much better chance of survival. The chances for survival decrease with each passing hour without care. If you have dogs yourself you should avoid going to your friends place until she has had a chance to bleach EVERYTHING in her home and yard. She should even spray her lawn with bleach because Parvo can survive for 10 year (ten years) in grass. Searing heat and blinding cold won't kill it. Only bleach.

Answer 2

From your discription it really sounds like parvo, but the cough is what puzzles me as they do not normally cough with parvo. Worms have the same symptoms close to parvo and they will cough with worms as the dog is so infested they sometimes cough them up. worms will cause a virus that causes parvo. My suggestion to you is do not waste anytime get to the vet.
Parvo can be cured distemper ther is no cure, and worms, parvo and distemper are deadly.
distemper, parvo and even worms are contagious. Other dogs can get the worms from the eggs.
Go to the vet NOW>>>>>>.

I have had two pups that were rescues that were treated for parvo. Both lived, and doing just fine now. As far as some articles that state they will always be health issues after parvo this is not true in my opinion because mine are as healthy as they can be.

Parvo can live in the ground for 9 months even longer. If a dog recovers from parvo you still have to keep them away from other dogs that have not been vaccinated for at least 30 more days as their feces are still contagious.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Parvo or distemper?
My friend's dog is very sick. He shows all the symptoms of parvo. I was just looking around the internet and i came across a virus called distemper. The symptoms are similar to parvo. But when i was reading about this distemper virus the one of the symptom is diarrhea. It doesn't say...

Answer 4

Distemper and Parvo are very similar. If the dog is licenced though, he probably has the shot that takes care of both illnesses. Both Viruses seriously damage a dog. Tell your friend to immediately take his dog to the vet!

Answer 5

Go to the vet ASAP!!!

Btw, all dogs should be vaccinated for distemper.... parvo I'm not so sure.

Answer 6

parvo the dog needs to be seen immediately. parvo will kill a dog very quick

Answer 7

sounds like parvo. Get the dog to the vet.

Answer 8

first of all she needs to go to the vet stop looking stuff up online and take it to the vet they will determine what the poor dog is suffering from it needs immediate attention so she can get her dog well you are just wasting time trying to figure out which one she has take the poor doggy to the vet asap

Answer 9

The best way to tell if the dog has Parve, is to lift its skin, and if it is slow to retract back in place, it is parvo.