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Meet ‘Turbo’, a nine-week-old, energetic male puppy. Turbo wasn’t as energetic when he first met the team of vets at AHT Vets.
Turbo’s human-parents brought him in to the clinic as he didn’t quite finish his morning meal, and had a small bout of diarrhea.
He also vomited the night before, and his owners were concerned. After examining Turbo, the vet performed a test for parvovirus; it was positive.
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Turbo was hospitalised, and underwent intensive care including a drip, antibiotics and medication. He was a very lucky pup, as he didn’t need a blood transfusion.
But he had heard from some of his friends at the dog park that sometimes dogs with his disease may need blood or plasma transfusions. Some of his friends even had their puppy friends die of the disease.
Turbo stayed in hospital for two weeks before he was given the all-clear. Today, he is a handsome two-year-old.
What is “Parvo”, and how do dogs get exposed to it?
Canine parvoviral diarrhoea, or “parvo”, is caused by canine parvovirus.
The virus is shed in the feces of infected animals, and animals may become infected when exposed to the virus in the environment, such as when out walking, at dog parks and beaches.
Though this is the most common way animals may get infected, the virus is quite hardy, and is easily carried on your shoes and clothing and can also infect your pet in this manner.
Which animals are most susceptible to the disease?
Only dogs can get parvoviral diarrhoea. Puppies from six weeks to six months of age are most susceptible, as this is when the antibodies they received through the milk from their mother, wears down and they may not be fully vaccinated and protected by their own antibodies yet.
What does the virus do?
The virus primarily attacks and destroys the cells of the small intestines, but may also affect bone marrow and cause anaemia and a low white cell count.
With the destruction of the small intestinal cells, the animals struggle to digest and absorb nutrients from the intestine.
What signs do we need to look out for?
The first signs of a possible parvo virus infection are usually:
- lethargy
- reduced appetite
- vomiting; and
- diarrhoea
How can I prevent my puppy from contracting the disease?
Getting and keeping their vaccinations up-to-date is the only known way to protect puppies and dogs from getting the disease.
Keep in mind that a vaccine response takes about two weeks to fully develop, so it is best to keep your puppy isolated and prevent contact with dogs with an unknown health and vaccination history until at least two weeks after their last vaccination.
Annual vaccination is recommended, however some brand of vaccinations are registered for three year protection.
The team at AHT Vets have recently seen an increase in the number of young puppies presenting with vomiting and diarrhoea, and these pups have subsequently tested positive for canine parvovirus.
This is a disease many owners are familiar with, but sometimes we forget or push it to the back of our minds.
With the recent resurgence of this disease, AHT Vets would like to make sure the pet-owner community in Redlands is aware of the risks of the disease, the clinical signs and how to prevent it.
If you think your pet may be at risk, either because they have missed vaccinations, please get in touch with with AHT Vets so the team can advise you on the best way forward to keep your fur baby protected.
