Parvo virus recovery

The most hard-hit areas are:. In small puppies, parvovirus can also infect the heart, which causes inflammation of the heart muscle, poor heart function, and arrythmias. When the virus infects the bone marrow, it attacks the young immune cells, which leads a drop in protective white blood cells.

This is where the worst damage happens. While parvo in dogs is not always fatal, those that do not survive typically die from dehydration or shock—along with the damage caused by the septic toxins from the intestinal bacteria escaping into the bloodstream.

Recovery from parvovirus varies case by case. Full recovery may take quite a while depending on the severity of the disease and the damage it has done. It is very important that puppies with parvovirus receive adequate nutrition so that their intestines can heal. Dogs recovering from a parvo infection should be fed a bland, easily digestible diet. Hospital stays generally last around five to seven days, but this varies depending on the severity of symptoms.

Survival is more difficult if the dog is not given veterinary attention quickly after showing clinical signs, or if the dog is not hospitalized with sufficient supportive care.

In some cases, if a dog is not severely ill, or if expensive treatment is prohibitive, then treatment on an outpatient basis may be attempted with help from the vet. While some dogs can recover from this protocol, it is much safer—and more likely to have better outcomes—if the dog is hospitalized.

There is no cure for parvovirus, so the treatment revolves around supporting the puppy so their body can fight off the virus.

The cost of treatment can vary greatly based on the severity of illness, length of hospital stay, and location of the veterinary clinic. Costs could start around several hundred dollars for outpatient treatment and up to several thousand dollars for a severe case with hospitalization. Needless to say, it is much more cost-effective to have your dog fully vaccinated than to have a dog with parvovirus.

This vaccine is considered a core vaccine and should be given every three to four weeks from 6 weeks to at least 16 weeks of age. The most important thing is making sure you get your puppy in on time for their vaccines. If too much time has passed between boosters, the vaccine series will need to be started over again to maintain protection. Recovery times vary depending on the severity of the case, but it usually takes approximately one week for puppies to recover from parvo.

Parvo is a preventable virus. You should not allow puppies to come into contact with unvaccinated dogs until they have received all of their parvo vaccines. Make sure all dogs in your household are vaccinated, and be very careful when socializing your puppy. Dog parks and other places where dogs congregate are potential sources of parvo, so plan on socializing your puppy in a less public environment. Socialization and training are very important for puppies.

You can safely socialize your puppy with fully vaccinated adult dogs in an environment like your home. Puppy classes, boarding facilities, and doggy daycare facilities usually require proof of vaccination for all of their participants, but it is a good idea to talk to your vet about the appropriate level of caution.

Parvo is a serious and highly contagious disease. Understanding how parvo spreads, the symptoms of parvo, the treatment options for parvo, and the best ways to prevent parvo in puppies will help you keep your puppy safe.

For more information about parvo, talk to your vet. Note: This article is not intended as a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect your dog has parvo, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of parvovirus 19 infection. About parvovirus B Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fifth disease. Pregnancy and fifth disease. Riley LE, et al. Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy.

Treatment and prevention of parvovirus B19 infection. Parvovirus-associated arthritis. Mayo Clinic; Recommendations for prevention and control of influenza in children, Sullivan JE, et al. Clinical report — Fever and antipyretic use in children.

Reaffirmed Labeling of drug preparations containing salicylates. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Accessed Feb. Renaud DL expert opinion. Symptoms often associated with CPV include lethargy, depression, and loss or lack of appetite, followed by a sudden onset of high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your veterinarian can run several tests to help determine whether your dog is infected with CPV.

ELISA is an acronym for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a technology is similar to that used in home pregnancy tests. A fecal sample is added to the chamber, and antibodies attach to parvovirus proteins that may be present in the stool. Though the ELISA test is fairly accurate, it is can occasionally produce false positive or false negative results, so further testing may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.

Veterinarians may also rely on a test that uses a techniques called polymerase chain reaction PCR to diagnose CPV from fecal samples. A simple measure of white blood cell count is often the clincher for a CPV diagnosis. Because one of the first things the parvovirus infects is the bone marrow, a low white blood cell count can be suggestive of CPV infection.

Treatment options for dogs suffering from CPV involve supportive care and management of symptoms. Treatment options will vary, depending on how sick the dog is, but certain aspects are considered vital for all patients.

A hospital stay is often necessary so that the dog can receive intravenous fluids and nutrients to replace the vast quantities lost via vomiting and diarrhea. Blood transfusions may also be helpful to boost low blood cell counts that may result from CPV infecting the bone marrow.

Antibiotics may be appropriate therapy for a dog suffering from CPV, administered either intravenously or as injections, to help fight the infection if intestinal bacteria have entered the bloodstream. In addition, medications to control nausea and diarrhea are sometimes useful. Many dogs will respond to medical therapy if it is initiated in a timely fashion, and those dogs that recover from CPV infection retain lifelong protective immunity against the strain that infected them.

Since the advent of a number of effective canine vaccinations for CPV, this infectious disease has become much less of a threat to dogs. This does not mean, however, that CPV does not remain a serious problem, and vaccination of your dog should not be considered an option — it is a must. Veterinarians usually administer the CPV vaccine as part of a combination shot which includes, among others, the distemper, canine adenovirus, and parainfluenza vaccines. These shots are given every 3 to 4 weeks from the time a puppy is 6 weeks old until he is at least 16 weeks of age.

A booster vaccination is recommended one year later, and then at one at three year intervals thereafter.