Parvovirus, a canine disease is extremely contagious, especially affecting dogs, who spend a large portion of their day in the wild
CPV is very contagious and is passed on by direct or indirect physical contact with the droppings of infected dogs. Veterinary treatments are usually able to prevent this viral infection, but high mortality can occur in untreated cases.
Parvovirus affects small dogs as well as large dogs, and even smaller breeds. Small dogs are particularly at risk because they tend to defecate in places where they are not able to see or smell infected feces, such as on beds or in corners of the house. However, cats can also contract the disease, but the incubation period is longer. If you believe your pet may have this viral disease, you should visit your veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment.
Most people will confuse symptoms for cat's diarrhea. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy and dehydration. Your vet will perform a body scan on your pet to diagnose CPV. You may also be advised to take your pet to the Vet Emergency Hospital. There, your vet will test your pet's stool to identify the exact type of parvovirus it has and determine if it is contagious.
The parvo virus attacks the lymph nodes, where they produce white blood cells to fight infection. However, infected lymph nodes do not always produce enough antibodies to fight the virus, which leads to high fever and death in up to 90% of affected dogs. There are no vaccines available to prevent this viral infection.
Treatment involves high doses of antibiotics to kill the virus and eliminate all the bacteria that may have become infected. The medication also kills any remaining parasites and prevents them from reproducing. It is advisable to take your pet to the Vet Emergency Hospital right away in case of severe illness. The staff there can also give you advice on appropriate vaccination and treatment options for your pet.
Parvo virus affects dogs from three to nine months old. In most cases, the disease is undetectable in puppies younger than four months old, but it can occur later in life. However, this is rare. In older dogs, the disease is more common. It is usually diagnosed in the abdominal area, in the liver or kidneys.
If the cat is affected by parvovirus, you should look for changes in its behavior, including fever, loss of appetite, weight loss and diarrhea. A blood test will help to determine if your cat has this disease. Sometimes, the veterinarian may also want to examine the lungs for abnormalities. However, these tests are not possible in puppies.
In order to confirm the diagnosis, a sample of the cat's urine will be examined under a microscope
No cure is available to cure parvo virus. If it is left untreated, the cat could suffer from kidney failure. Your vet may recommend that your cat is euthanized if the infection spreads beyond the liver and into the bloodstream.
If your cat is suffering from parvo virus, you should avoid exposing it to other animals or humans because the virus attacks the immune system. Dogs and cats who have already been exposed to the virus may develop symptoms including weakness, loss of appetite, loss of weight, vomiting, diarrhea and blood in the urine.
To prevent the virus from attacking the immune system, it is important to feed your dog or cat a healthy diet that contains plenty of protein and calcium. It is also advisable to give them vitamin C supplements, which boost the immune system.
Parvo virus is caused by a strain of bacteria called Parvoviridae. There are several strains of this virus and all of them are susceptible to different forms of treatment. However, these three are the most common. Treatment depends on the type of virus that was infected your dog or cat.
You can get information about the various treatments at your veterinarian's office. This article was designed to educate you on this subject.