I need as much info on Parvo as I can... HELP ME!!!?

Question

I have had lots of dogs die of parvo and I was wondering about it and when I could get a new dog...

I have vaccinated all of my dogs and yet they still seem to be dying on me...

Answer 1

Whether or not infection happens depends on the interaction of three things: host vitality (including immune experience/vaccination status), virulence of the virus (including how many viral particles the host is exposed to), and environmental factors. Obviously these three aspects interplay somewhat; a stressful environment will reduce host vitality, a dry environment will reduce the number of viral particles, etc.


WHERE DOES VIRUS COME FROM?
Remember that this virus has been around for nearly 20 years, is very hard to disinfect away, and is shed in large numbers by infected dogs. This means that there is virus everywhere: on every carpet, on every floor, in every yard and park. Virus is shed for the first 2 weeks or less after infection in the stool of an infected dog but only a tiny portion of infected stool (which could be months old depending on the environmental temperature and humidity) is needed to infect a non-immune dog. Some dogs become what is called subclinically infected, which means they do not appear particularly sick. These animals tend not to be confined since no one knows they are infected thus they can spread virus around a large area depending on where they leave their droppings.

WHY ONLY PUPPIES?
The most important factors in parvovirus infection seem to be the immune experience the host (dog) has had with the virus plus the number of viral particles the host is exposed to. Twenty years ago when the virus was new, all dogs young and old were susceptible but now, because the virus is present everywhere, all dogs, even the unvaccinated ones, have at least some immunological experience with this virus. Any exposure no matter how small is likely to generate some antibodies. Also, vaccination is a widespread process nowadays and it is likely that a dog has had at least one vaccine at some point. Will these antibodies be enough for protection? In general, the answer seems to be yes as infection in dogs over age one is somewhat unusual. It is important to realize, however, that this observation should not be taken to mean that adult dogs should not continue their vaccinations. Even though infection is somewhat unusual in adult dogs, adult dogs should still continue their vaccinations as this is a life threatening disease for which treatment is expensive and no chances should be taken.

NATURAL PROTECTION?





When puppies are born, they are completely unable to make antibodies against any infectious invader. They would be totally unprotected except that nature has created a system to protect them. Their mother secretes a special milk for the first day or two after giving birth. This milk is called colostrum. It contains all the antibodies that the mother dog has circulating in her own body and in this way, she gives her own immune experience to her off-spring. These antibodies protect the puppies until they wear off sometime in the first 4 months of life.

How much colostrum an individual puppy gets depends on its birth order and how strong a nurser it is; not all puppies get the same amount of antibodies. Every nine days the antibody levels possessed by the puppies drops by half. When the antibody level drops to a certain level, they no longer have enough antibody to protect them and if they are exposed to a large enough number of viral particles, they will get infected.

We recommend that puppies be restricted from public outdoor areas until their vaccination series is completed at age 16 weeks.

There is a good week or so period during which the puppy has no antibody protection leftover from its mother but still is not yet competent to respond to vaccination. This window is where even the most well cared for puppies get infected.

INCUBATION
The virus enters the body through the mouth as the puppy cleans itself or eats food off the ground or floor. A minuscule amount of infected stool is all it takes.

There is a 3 to 7 day incubation period before the puppy seems obviously ill.




Upon entering the body, the virus seeks out the nearest rapidly dividing group of cells. The lymph nodes of the throat fits the bill and the virus sets up here first replicating to large numbers. After a couple of days, so much virus has been produced that significant amounts of virus have been released free into the bloodstream. Over the next 3 to 4 days, the virus seeks new organs containing the rapidly dividing cells it needs: the bone marrow and the delicate intestinal cells.

Within the bone marrow, the virus is responsible for destruction of young cells of the immune system. By killing these cells, it knocks out the body's best defense and ensures itself a reign of terror in the GI tract where its most devastating effects occur. All parvoviral infections are characterized by a drop in white blood cell count due to the bone marrow infection. Seeing this on a blood test may help clinch a diagnosis of parvoviral infection. Also, a veterinarian may choose to monitor white blood cell count or even attempt to artificially raise the white blood cell count in an



infected puppy through treatment.

It is in the GI tract where the heaviest damage occurs. The normal intestine possesses little finger-like protrusions called villi. Having these tiny fingers greatly increases the surface area available for the absorption of fluid and nutrients. To make the surface area available for absorption greater still, the villi possess microvilli, which are microscopic protrusions. The cells of the villi are relatively short-lived and are readily replaced by new cells. The source of the new cells is the rapidly dividing area at the foot of the villi called the Crypts of Lieberkuhn. It is right at



the crypt where the parvovirus strikes.

Without new cells coming from the crypt, the villus becomes blunted and unable to absorb nutrients. Diarrhea in large quantities results not to mention nausea. The barrier separating the digestive bacteria from the blood stream breaks down. The diarrhea becomes bloody and bacteria can enter the body causing widespread infection (remember that that virus has simultaneously destroyed the bone marrow's ability to respond immunologically).

The virus kills one of two ways:

Diarrhea and vomiting lead to extreme fluid loss and dehydration until shock and death result

Loss of the intestinal barrier allows bacterial invasion of potentially the entire body. Septic toxins from these bacteria result in death.
HOW IS SURVIVAL POSSIBLE?
Even parvovirus cannot disrupt the entire immune system. Plus, every day that goes by allows more antibody to be produced. This antibody can bind and inactivate the virus. Whether survival is possible amounts to a race between the damaged immune system trying to recover and respond versus the fluid loss and bacterial invasion.


Because the canine parvovirus is not enveloped in fat the way the distemper virus is, canine parvovirus is especially hardy in the environment. It is readily carried on shoes or clothing to new areas (which accounts for its rapid worldwide spread shortly after its original appearance). It is able to overwinter freezing temperatures in the ground outdoors plus many household disinfectants are not capable of killing it indoors.

Given that this is such a tough virus to destroy, many people want to know exactly what they must do to disinfect an area that has contained an infected dog or how long they must wait before safely introducing a new dog to a previously contaminated area.

Here is what we know about how contaminated an environment is likely to be:

Infected dogs shed virus (in their stool) in gigantic amounts during the 2 weeks following exposure. Because such enormous amounts of virus are shed, there is a HUGE potential for environmental contamination when a infected dog has been there.

It is important to realize that because the canine parvovirus is so hardy in the environment, it is considered "ubiquitous." This means that NO ENVIRONMENT is free from this virus unless it is regularly disinfected.

A parvoviral infection can be picked up ANYWHERE though it is easier to pick up an infection in an area where an infected dog has been present simply because of the larger amounts of virus present in a contaminated area.

Whether an individual dog gets infected or not depends on the number of viral particles the dog experiences, what kind of immune experience the dog has had with the virus before (vaccinated? previously infected? how much past exposure?), and how strong the individual dog is (stress factors, diet etc.)
A typical/average infectious dose for an unvaccinated dog is 1000 viral particles. For some dogs far less is needed. For other dogs, far more is needed. An infected dog sheds 35 million viral particles (35,000 TIMES the typical infectious dose) per OUNCE of stool.

Indoor decontamination:

Indoors, virus loses its infectivity within one month; therefore, it should be safe to introduce a new puppy indoors one month after the active infection has ended.
Outdoor decontamination:

Freezing is completely protective to the virus. If the outdoors is contaminated and is frozen, one must wait for it to thaw out before safely introducing a new puppy.

Shaded areas should be considered contaminated for seven months.

Areas with good sunlight exposure should be considered contaminated for five months.
Of course, the above presupposes that no decontamination steps (other than waiting) have been taken. In most households, owners want to know how to disinfect their homes to create a safer environment for the other dogs there or to create a safe environment for a new or replacement puppy.

Here's what we know about disinfection:

Despite the introduction of new cleaners with all sorts of claims, parvovirus remains virtually impossible to completely remove from an environment. The goal of decontamination is to reduce the number of viral particles to an acceptable level.

The best and most effective disinfectant against viruses (including parvoviruses) is BLEACH. One part bleach is mixed with 30 parts water and is applied to bowls, floors, surfaces, toys, bedding, and anything contaminated that is colorfast or for which color changes are not important.

Bleach completely kills parvovirus

Disinfection becomes problematic for non-bleachable surfaces such as carpet or lawn. Outdoors, if good drainage is available, thorough watering down of the area may dilute any virus present. Since carpet is indoors, it may be best to simply wait a good month or so for the virus to die off before allowing any puppies access to the area.

Answer 2

Parvo virus is extremely contagious and can live in the soil for up to 2 years. It would really be best if you did not get another puppy anytime soon. You can however adopt a fully vaccinated adult dog as they are very unlikely to contract the virus. Any areas that you had your puppy while it was sick should be disinfected with a mixture of bleach and water. Make sure that your pets are current on vaccinations, this is the best way to keep your dog healthy. Parvo if caught early can often be treated with a fairly good success rate. This usually requires several days of hospitalization and I.V. fluids and antibiotics. If you do have a new puppy you should not take it anywhere that is a high traffic area for other dogs until it has had all of its vaccines. This means a series of dhppv vaccines every 3 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks old. I am sorry that you have lost some pets to parvo- it really is an awful virus. Good luck with future pets- and please make sure your next one is fully vaccinated before bringing it home to ensure that it will be healthy.

Answer 3

Parvo is an intestinal disease. Pretty much worms get into the dogs intestines and live off of them. Eventually it causes the dog to get weak. The dog stool will have blood in it. If you catch it early, the dog can be saved. The vet suggests waiting six months to a year before u get another dog. To disinfect your yard, buy some lime and spread it all over your yard. Anything that your old dogs used cant be used with a new dog. I have had two dogs die at the same time from parvo, so i know a lil bit. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

First off, don't buy dogs from petstores- the conditions those dogs were bred and kept in are disgusting, and many of them will come down with parvo. Buy from a reputable breeder, and take the dog to the vet THAT DAY!!! Keep a close eye on the puppy and make sure he gets all his vaccinations on time.

I would do a lot of research and find out why your dogs are dying- there could be a lot of things you're doing wrong that need to be corrected. Ask a vet for advice, they're the best resources for this situation.

Answer 5

Do you ever get your dogs their shots? Parvo is easily prevented with shots and not having them in public places before they have had all shots. You cannot bring a new puppy into an area where the parvo has been for at least a year, longer is even better. Sorry, but I don't think you should have a dog. They seem to die in your care.

Answer 6

Here are some links to get you started. But don't get a puppy until you are ready, have you considered adopting a dog a little older passed the age of dying from Parvo? You can get "pups", 6 months old, a year old even and they are still "puppies", and are always looking for good homes.

Working Dogs
Parvo FAQs
http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm

CreatorActions
Care For Animals Pet Health
Canine Illnesses and diseases including parvo virus
http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/pethealth/canine.asp#4

Encyclopedia of Canine Veterinary Medical Information
P-Parvo
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/deparvo.html

Parvaid
Safe and effective way of treating Parvo.
http://www.ambertech.com/

Parvo Virus
http://www.lbah.com/Canine/Parvo.html

Pet Columns: Puppies Need Extra Protection against Canine Parvovirus
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=242
Vet Info 4 Dogs
Parvovirus in Dogs
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dparvo.html

Answer 7

When a dog contracts parvo, they become very ill and experience significant abdominal pain. The virus damages the intestinal lining, causing it to slough.
Most puppies infected with parvo are unable to eat and rapidly become dehydrated. This results in a significant loss of electrolytes, which causes them to become very weak. Often dehydration is the official cause of death in dogs with parvo.
If you pup or new dog should be out side use pure bleach and soak the infected area where the other dogs were. Try not to let the new pup go around that area if able. Best wishes. This is a very bad and sad virus.

Answer 8

Get an older dog, 2-3 years, who is UTD on his vaccines. parvo can live in the environment for YEARS!! So, that is probably why all your dogs have died from parvo.

A new dog MUST have prior vaccines to be safe. An older dog is better. Certain breeds seem to contract the virus more than others, but any dog can get it. Just be sure it is fully vaccinated!!

Answer 9

Let me give you a little info my vet gave me:

Do not get a dog from a breeder who does their own shots... they buy them from catalogs and other places that don't necessarily take proper care of the vaccines. Vets have guarantees with their suppliers, so theirs will definitely be effective.

Do not get a puppy from a breeder who vaccinates more frequently than every 3 weeks. An animals immune system can not react to vaccines if they are given more often that every 3 weeks. A friend got a dog from a breeder that started vaccinating at 3 weeks and then repeated it weekly until they were 6 weeks old, then every 2 weeks until they were 12 weeks old... NOT good!

Do get a puppy from a breeder who has every litter checked by a veterinarian who has their own practice that you could go to if you wanted to keep with the same caretaker.

You also got some very good advice with regards to considering your next dog to be an adult who has been fully vaccinated.... bringing a puppy into your environment is likely going to be another sad story.

Answer 10

when you get another dog have it vaccinated for parvo . don't let new dog wander around outdoors or indoors where others were that had parvo, because it is highly contagious, until shot has protected new dog. you might call a veterinarian and ask how you could eliminate the germ or bacteria from your house indoors and out, before you get another dog . that way you can have your place treated and the parvo gone before you start with a new dog. hope this helps. i had a dog that died from parvo also.

Answer 11

You need to disinfect your home and yard. Bleach works best but there are commercial preparations that you can use as well. (Check out petedge.com) Parvo can live for months in the ground. Why have you lost lots of dogs from Parvo? You should vaccinate your dogs.