How To Keep A Dog Safe From Parvo

What Is Parvo?

Parvo in puppies is caused by the canine parvovirus. Parvo is a type of virus that affects dogs and other carnivores. It is highly contagious, and can spread through the air or by direct contact.

Dogs can catch it from other dogs, wildlife, and humans. It can spread between dogs and cats, and from mother to her unborn puppies.

Some symptoms of the disease include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, and dehydration, but in most cases the symptoms are mild, and the dog recovers quickly.

The virus can cause the dog to suffer from anemia, so a blood transfusion is usually needed for them to get the blood they need.

Parvovirus can be fatal for puppies and adult dogs, but there are ways you can protect yourself against it.

If you have a puppy or an older dog that has been exposed to parvovirus, here's what you need to know about how to prevent this disease.

How do Dog's get Parvo?

The parvovirus is transmitted through sniffing, licking, or eating infected feces.

Indirect transmission occurs when someone who has recently been exposed to an infected dog touches your puppy. Or when your puppy encounters a contaminated object, like a food or water bowl, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs.

Due to its pathogenicity in the stomach and small intestine, it's classified as a virus of the stomach and small intestine.

As a rule, the virus infects the small intestine, where it destroys cells, impairs absorption, and disrupts the gut barrier.

Parvo can also affect the bone marrow and lymphopoietic tissues of puppies, and in some cases, it can also affect the heart.

Why Do Puppies Get Parvo?

Puppyhood is when a puppy’s immune system isn't fully developed yet.

Parvo most often affects puppies between the ages of six weeks and six months. Puppies younger than six weeks of age still have some of their mother's antibodies, assuming that the dam received her full series of parvo vaccinations.

At the age of approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks, puppies are immunized against parvo. Since they can contract the disease until they have received all three shots in their vaccination series, he has no natural immunity to diseases such as parvo.

The best way to prevent this is to vaccinate your pup before his first birthday. If you don't have time to schedule a vaccination appointment with your vet, then make sure you give him some extra TLC during those early months.

It is possible for parvo to become more severe in puppies if it is combined with a secondary infection or a parasite.

In addition, certain breeds of dogs are at an increased risk of parvo:

Doberman Pinschers
American Staffordshire Terriers
English Springer Spaniels
German Shepherd Dogs
Labrador Retrievers

How Long Are Puppies With Parvo Contagious?

Within four to five days after exposure, puppies and adult dogs with parvo begin shedding the virus.

For conscientious owners, this time period doesn't always coincide with the onset of parvo-related symptoms, which means dogs can be contagious before owners even realize they are sick.

The virus persists in puppies with parvo for up to 10 days after they have recovered, so keep puppies recovering from parvo away from unvaccinated or partially vaccinated dogs.

A virus can survive outside of your dog for at least a month indoors, and outside.

Under the right conditions, it can survive for many months or even a year.

If you have kennels or your home environment, which contains the parvovirus, consult your veterinarian.

Symptoms of Parvo in Puppies

Parvo-infected puppies are extremely sick. The sooner you spot the early signs of the virus in puppies, the sooner you can take your dog to the veterinarian.

Parvo is common in young puppies, so whenever you suspect your puppy is ill, contact your veterinarian.

You should know the following specific symptoms of parvo in puppies:

Vomiting Fever
Lethargy
Anorexia
Weight loss
Weakness
Dehydration
Depression

Even if you don't have parvo, these symptoms are still serious and could be a sign of something else serious.

If you suspect your puppy has parvo, contact your veterinarian immediately, and inform the staff of your suspicions and your puppy's symptoms in advance.

This way, they can take the appropriate quarantine measures to prevent your puppy from spreading the illness to other animals.

How to Protect your Dog from Parvo

1. Vaccinate Your Puppy

The best method for preventing parvovirus is to vaccinate your dog. As of today, vaccines exist that will protect dogs against all types of parvo above.

Around 6-8 weeks of age, puppies should receive their first dog parvo vaccination, followed by boosters every three weeks until around 16 weeks of age.

One year later, they should receive another booster. You should give your dog a booster every three years after that.

Your dog should have a lifetime immunity to parvovirus after the initial three boosters. Following that, your dog will need regular boosters to maintain immunity.

If you adopt a dog that is older and don't have access to its shot record, give him the parvo vaccine to ensure he hasn't already been vaccinated.

Dogs can be over-vaccinated (for example, unknowingly vaccinating them for parvo after previously vaccinating them). However, the risk of contracting dog parvo is far greater than the risk of being over-vaccinated.

2. Keep unvaccinated dogs away from other dogs.

If you have a pet that has not been vaccinated for dog parvo or has not completed their first round of parvovirus vaccinations yet, keep him away from other dogs.

Vaccinated dogs may be resistant to parvovirus, but can still carry it, putting unvaccinated dogs at risk.

Because of the weak immune system of puppies, they are especially at risk of contracting parvovirus, with a 91% chance of dying if they are unvaccinated.

Avoid taking your dog out unless it has completed the first round of parvovirus. Any accidental contact with another dog or virus in the environment will make your dog sick.

You may find it hard to not walk your dog, going to the park and taking part in other activities with your pet, but it is crucial for their health.

I would much rather spend a few months indoors than risk my dog's contracting this deadly infection.

3. Keep Your Dog Close in Public

Avoid letting your pup touch the ground when you are taking them out in public unvaccinated, such as when you take your puppy to get his parvo vaccine.

Parvo is a very resilient virus capable of surviving in the environment. Anything can be contaminated with it, including grass and leaves.

The parvovirus is commonly found in dog feces, and just by sniffing them, your dog can contract it.

Unvaccinated dogs, and puppies especially, are easily infected with dog parvo just from a brief contact. It takes 3-4 days for a dog to show signs of illness once a virus enters through its mouth.

Be extra careful to keep your unvaccinated dog off the ground when you take it to the vet. Even dogs with parvo go to the vet, which is risky for your dog. Keep your dog off the ground until they receive their third parvo vaccination.

Using dog carriers is useful when your dog still needs to receive his parvo vaccination. While it's difficult to carry a big dog breed, it is necessary for your dog's safety.

4. Limit Contact With Other Dogs

Parvovirus cannot be contracted by humans, but it can be transmitted by them. If you aren't taking the right precautions, you can easily give your own dog parvo.

Avoid all contact with other animals if you have an unvaccinated dog at home. If the dog you come in contact with is vaccinated, they could still carry the virus, and if you are in contact with the dog, you could also carry it.

5. Disinfect Everything

Besides getting your dog vaccinated, you should also protect him at home from parvovirus.

If you have anything around your home that might be contaminated with dog parvo virus, disinfect it before your unvaccinated dog comes into contact with it.

Viruses can be found on many surfaces, including dog food bowls, clothes, floors, and more. Parvo can survive on surfaces for up to 5 months.

Parvo cannot be removed by regular soap and washing. Surfaces that are possible contaminants should be disinfected with bleach.

You should keep your dog away from areas disinfected with bleach, as even those areas can be infected with parvo.

If you can't disinfect something, throw it out. A dirty yard is hard to disinfect, so if a dog roamed the yard unvaccinated, keep him away.

6. Deworm Your Dog to Reduce Risk Of Parvo

Parvo is a disease that is more contagious in puppies who are unvaccinated. Dog parvo virus is most likely to infect puppies between 6 weeks and 4 months of age. An infected puppy's immune system is even less effective if they have intestinal worms.

Having worms in your dog can lead to a variety of health issues, but it can also put them at risk for contracting parvo because of a weak immune system. Overall, preventing worms offers your dog many health benefits, including preventing the contraction of dog parvo.

Dogs can be prevented from getting worms in two easy ways. The first method is to use a monthly heartworm medication.

An intestinal dewormer is always included. Veterinary prescriptions are required for monthly heartworm medications. Your dog will be more likely to be free of worms by doing this.

If you don't want to use a prescription heartworm medication, you can use an over-the-counter dog dewormer four times per year instead.

Either way, you are preventing worms in your dog, which ultimately increases your chances of preventing dog parvo as well.

7. Know the Symptoms of Dog Parvo Virus

It is important to know the symptoms of canine parvovirus if your dog is not vaccinated.

A dog can be treated with parvo if we can detect its symptoms early. Remember that there is an incubation period of 3-5 days after a dog contracts the virus before it shows symptoms of dog parvo.

There are many symptoms to look out for, as they will persist for about five to seven days depending on the dose of the virus. You may notice:

A lack of energy as a first sign of parvovirus. It is caused by the fever a dog with parvo suffers.
If your dog vomits or have diarrhea, his body temperature will rise, but then it will change.
Pay attention if you see your dog laying down more and seems uninterested in normal activities.
You should always look at your dog's stool, as well as the color of his feces. A common parvo symptom is diarrhea (sometimes bloody), which is seen in dogs of all ages, but particularly in puppies. The stools may vary in type and color; they may be runny and yellow or red in color. It normally has a strong smell.

What to Do If you come into Contact with a Parvo Infected Dog?

The disease is transmitted to dogs by owners.

Be careful not to transmit the virus to your dog if you come into contact with another dog.

Here's what to do immediately after contact:

It is important to thoroughly wash your hands.
Change your clothes completely when you get home. You must remove everything, including your socks.
Until you wash your clothes or finish your dog's vaccinations, keep your shoes and clothes away from your pet.
It's ideal to shower immediately after getting out of the shower.
Once you are sure you are free of contaminants, don't let your dog near you.

Puppy Socialization and Parvovirus Protection

Puppy owners have raised concerns about socialization and its risks due to the ever-present risk of parvovirus, also known as parvo.

Despite the valuable role socialisation plays in helping your puppy develop healthy interactions and behaviours, you also need to understand how

Parvovirus can affect your puppy and how to care for your puppy in a comfortable and safe environment.

A highly infectious virus that affects the digestive tract and cardiovascular system, canine parvoviruses cause severe illness in dogs.

Unvaccinated puppies and dogs are at risk of contracting the potentially life-threatening virus from infected faeces.

How to Protect Puppies from Parvovirus while Socializing?

While socialization is crucial to a dog's development, it's also vital to be aware of the risk of parvovirus. Vaccinations should be started before your puppy goes outside and interacts with other dogs.

When puppies receive their first vaccination, they build up a resistance to parvovirus, and can interact with other dogs and explore outdoor environments with greater safety.

Puppy school can begin once your puppy has received their first vaccination and has been examined by a vet, but they won't be able to socialize with other dogs until they have received their final vaccination.

How Can I Socialise My Puppy Without Risking Parvovirus?

The parvovirus is potentially life-threatening for young dogs.

To minimize the risk of an infection, keep your puppy away from other dogs and out of public places as soon as they receive their first vaccination.

Play with your puppy indoors and incorporate toys and games to keep them entertained. Introduce them to new friends, family, and even a fully vaccinated dog in a safe, confined environment after their first vaccination.

You should keep your puppy off the ground while meeting another dog if an unvaccinated dog or a dog with parvo has been in the environment previously.

If in doubt, hold your puppy up to prevent them from slipping. You can bring your puppy to puppy school once they have received their first vaccination.

What Age is My Puppy Safe from Parvo?

A puppy is susceptible to parvovirus even after vaccination, but vaccination reduces the risk of contracting this disease.

It is recommended puppies receive their first vaccinations between 6 and 8 weeks of age.

A second vaccination is required at 10 weeks of age. Upon completion of the 10-week vaccination, your puppy can be taken outside 2 weeks after the vaccine is finished.

While your puppy goes through a series of vaccinations while they're young, annual booster shots are necessary to keep your puppy healthy and safe for life.

Although your puppy may be fully vaccinated, it's best to stop them from smelling the feces of other dogs or animals to limit potential contact with contaminated feces by parvovirus.

I Think My Puppy Has Parvo… What Now?

See a veterinarian immediately if you suspect your puppy has parvo. The importance of time is crucial with parvo since it progresses rapidly.

The parvo virus is highly contagious, so do not bring your puppy into the lobby of your veterinarian's office, and do not let it out of the car to possibly spread it.

A veterinarian will examine and swab your pup's anus to conduct a parvo test in the car.

Your puppy will need to be hospitalized, receiving intensive fluid therapy, antibiotics, pain medication, anti-nausea and diarrhea medication, and if necessary, blood transfusions.

While fighting parvo, your puppy's blood glucose level also needs to be monitored since they cannot regulate it themselves.

Because of these factors, your puppy will require 24/7 care for a few days.

While your puppy is being treated for parvo, it will be kept in an isolation unit. This is to prevent the spread of the illness to other parts of the hospital.

The cost of treating parvo can quickly add up.

Dehydration is the biggest concern, so IV fluid therapy is administered for several days, along with constant glucose monitoring and special care.

Treatment for parvo costs near $2000 - $4000, and survival is not guaranteed.

It's important that dogs and puppies who survive parvo remain isolated from other animals for 6 weeks after shedding the virus.

How is Parvo Treated?

Untreated parvo affects dogs rapidly, and it can be fatal - so it's vital you contact our clinic as soon as possible if you believe your dog may have parvo.

Usually, the treatment involves hospitalization and a treatment plan involving IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-vomiting medications, and pain management.

Because parvo attacks the white cells of a dog's blood, their immunity and ability to fight infection is affected, so it is imperative an ill dog receives veterinary care immediately.

Understanding the signs, risk factors and prevention measures of parvo is crucial to any pet owner to ensure dogs have the best protection and the best chance at fighting the virus.

The survival rate of dogs treated by a veterinarian is 68 to 92 percent. Most puppies that survive the first three-to-four days make a complete recovery.

Can I Get a Second Dog while my Dog Has Parvo?

Make sure your existing dog is vaccinated before getting a new dog.

An unvaccinated dog in an environment with a new dog is a recipe for disaster.

Your pet may carry parvovirus without you knowing, and that can spread to your dog.

Shelter dogs are even more likely to carry the disease. Your pet should not be brought in until he or she has been fully vaccinated for dog parvo.

Before you consider adopting a new dog, your dog should have his third parvo shot.

As soon as your dog has received the third vaccination, adding more animals to the family will be fine; just make sure future pets are also vaccinated.

Final Thoughts: How Long Are Puppies With Parvo Contagious?

Affected puppies and adults shed the virus within 4-to-5 days of exposure.