Could my dog still have Parvo?

Question

My dog was vaccinated for parvo and then 3 days later at 9 weeks old he tested positive for parvo. He was very sick so we took him to MSU and he tested negative for parvo twice. Could he still have parvo, because they still seem to think it was. Unfortunately we lost the little guy and now I am looking for answers.

Thanks for your answers guys. He was vaccinated at 6 weeks and then again at about 8.5 weeks. He was given iv, antibiotics and even a blood transfusion. He was only 2 lbs. and eventually we didn't want him suffering anymore, he was getting worse not better. I am so torn up about it. The breeder promised me another dog but I'm not comfortable bringing another puppy into my home for at least a year, so I can make sure the parvo is gone. I hate parvo.

Answer 1

He probably had a positive reaction because of having the parvo shot a few days before, specially since he later tested negative for parvo. There was probably another underlying cause. Did you have a necropsy(autopsy) done? I should add that a dog can get parvo after having 1 or 2 shots, if it has been exposed to the disease.

I am so so sorry for your loss.

Answer 2

I would think that he DID have parvo. He was given ONE vaccine, and since it was only a few days before he tested postive, he had more than likely already been exposed and was incubating the virus. Unfortunately just one vaccine usually does not help a whole lot when it comes to a puppy getting parvo, which is why people need to be sure to have all three done before taking their puppy to public places like the park, etc. NOT saying you did this, just saying how important it is. I have also never heard of the vaccine causing a positive result..the test is looking for the virus in the stool, and the vaccine uses a killed "taken apart" piece of the virus..the part that the dogs body recognizes and makes immunity against, but not where it could cause disease. I am sorry for your loss, parvo is an awful disease.

Answer 3

It did sound like Parvo. I hope he did not suffer.

My dog survived it as a 8-10 week old puppy. Weeks of vet care and IV's at home. They were great doctors and the bill was Huge! Yet the trauma and high fever left her "retarded". She is beautiful, loving bordercollie dog, yet unstable and must be kept alone, she attacks anything or anyone except me. So I wonder if I did the right thing? She is 12 this year. She appears to be a happy dog, yet in a "total world of her own" . I keep her in a fenced run during the day and the "run" of the back yard at night. I am commited to loving and taking care of her for the rest of her life, yet was I right? You never know. Just do what is right, for you. I will not get another dog until she passes of natural causes.

Sounds like you did the best you could. Sorry for your loss.

Answer 4

The incubation time for parvo is about 10 days, so he may have had parvo already. I'm curious what test they used on him. Some of the less expensive ones are wrong from time to time. Other factors can cause positive results as well as negative ones. If he was that sick I'm surprised he wasn't put on an IV drip and heavy antibiotics. Dehydration is the number one cause of parvo death - secondary infections are close behind.

Answer 5

unfortunately parvo is very hard to diagnose and tests often come back negative even if they have it.

Remember that parvo can live for up to 6 months in your home. I linked a site at the bottom that tells you how to clean your home and yard. I'm so sorry for your loss. I work for a vet and have seen how horrible it can be.

Answer 6

well...b4 u bring another dog into ur house, dissinfect the whole house & yard with clorox...parvo spreads out as far as a mile....be very careful!!

Answer 7

sorry but its just like the flu, you can vaccinate against it but you cant prevent it totally

Answer 8

dogs are born with it sometimes they get sometimes they dont