When Oprah Winfrey adopted two Cocker Spaniel puppies earlier this year, she didn’t know a dangerous and potentially deadly virus was incubating inside them.
The puppies developed parvo. One of them succumbed to the malady while the other received supportive care.
The disease made the news again in mid-October when officials reported a parvo outbreak in Santa Barbara County in California.
Parvo, or canine parvovirus type 2, attacks the lining of the dog’s digestive system, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). All dogs are vulnerable to the disease, but it affects puppies more than adults.
When parvo infects a dog’s system, it prevents him from properly absorbing nutrients. The dog’s initial symptoms usually include a high fever, lethargy, depression and loss of appetite. Secondary symptoms appear as severe gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting and bloody diarrhea, according to the Santa Barbara County Health Department.
The vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, according to the AVMA. Most deaths occur within 48 to 72 hours following the onset of symptoms. Pet parents should contact their veterinarians immediately if their dogs show any of these signs.
Parvo is highly contagious and resistant to heat, cold, dry conditions and humidity. Direct contact with infected dogs via contaminated feces, environments or people can spread the disease. The virus can remain on kennel surfaces, bowls, collars, leashes and people who handled infected dogs. Even trace amounts of contaminated feces can infect other dogs that come in contact with it.
People can prevent the spread of the virus by isolating infected dogs for at least a month after recovery. Pet parents must clean up their dog’s stools by using a solution of one part chlorine bleach to 30 parts water on the dog’s possessions and outdoor areas. The virus is not easily killed, so dog parents should ask their veterinarian about specific cleaning agents.
The best ways to ward off the disease are vaccination and good hygiene. According to the AVMA, young puppies are very susceptible to parvo because the natural immunity they get from their mother’s milk may wear off before their own immune systems are strong enough to fight infections. For protection, puppies should get a series of vaccinations and receive a dose of parvo vaccine between 14 to 16 weeks of age, regardless of how many doses they received earlier. Pet parents should make sure their adult dog’s parvo vaccinations are up to date.
People should be cautious of taking puppies to places where dogs gather or near infected dogs until the puppies receive their complete series of vaccinations. Dogs who show symptoms or were exposed to infected dogs shouldn’t be placed with other canines.
Humans who handle infected or exposed dogs should avoid handling other dogs, or at least change their clothes and wash their hands, according to the AVMA.
No specific drug can kill the virus. The only option is to treat the dog’s weakened system until he recovers. Treatment should start immediately to keep the dog warm, combat dehydration, replace electrolytes and fluids, control vomiting and diarrhea, and prevent secondary infections. Medical care for a dog sick with parvo can be expensive, and the dog may still succumb despite treatment.
Aly Adair couldn’t afford to hospitalize her puppy when the 6-week-old fell ill with parvo. Adair decided to care for the puppy herself and placed the dog in the bathroom with a blanket, heat lamp and disposable puppy training pads to easily dispose of contagious stools.
Every 15 minutes, Adair used a cooking syringe to force feed the pup a mixture of baby food and prescription dog food or electrolyte drinks. Adair bundled the pup in the blanket, then alternated to the training pad for potty time.
Although the puppy survived and lived until she was 15 years old, Adair strongly recommends veterinarian care for the best chance for survival.
PHOTOS: examiner.com, stanford.edu
Category : Blog
