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© Bird Dog & Retriever News, PO Box 120089, New Brighton, MN 55112 612-868-9169 www.Bdarn.com Subscribe $9.99/Yr 9 June/ July 2017 Bird Dog & Retriever News www.Bdarn.com Medical Parvovirus In Puppies Texas A&M University Newswire Vaccinations can prevent many illnesses in puppies, but viruses such as canine parvo- virus are still a threat to dogs with developing immune sys- tems. Young puppies often have immunity against the virus be- cause they get antibodies from the colostrum in their mother’s milk, but these antibodies are not always as effective as a vac- cine. Dr. Johanna Heseltine, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sci- ences, explained the charac- teristics of parvovirus. “Ca- nine parvovirus, or “parvo,” is a highly contagious virus that affects dogs and often causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in puppies,” she said. “Parvovirus lives for months in the environment, so many puppies can be ex- posed while their immune system is still vulnerable. Once dogs are fully vacci- nated, they seldom become infected. Even if a puppy has received some vaccines, they are still at risk for in- fection because the antibod- ies they receive from their mother’s milk can interfere with the puppy’s immune response to the vaccine. In addition to this, the puppy’s body has not made its own protective antibodies.” Parvovirus attacks ar- eas of the body where cells are rapidly dividing, such as the intestinal tract and bone marrow tissue. As a result, victims of the virus experience a loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and lethargy. “Since the virus attacks white blood cells in the bone marrow, infected dogs develop low white blood cell counts, which puts them at risk for a bacterial infection called sepsis,” said Heseltine. “The se- verity of illness varies between patients, but most of the dogs we see in the hospital develop severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting.” Parvovirus spreads through fecal-oral contact, meaning the virus can be transmitted through any animal, person, or object that comes in contact with an infected dog’s feces. A dog can shed parvovirus in its stool without show- ing any signs of illness and can continue spread- ing the virus for several weeks after recovering. Parvovirus is so com- mon that it may be pres- ent anywhere that dogs frequently visit. Inani- mate objects, such as food bowls, shoes, clothes, and carpet also serve as carri- ers for the virus for up to several months. “Treatments for parvo- virus are available, but prevention through vacci- nation is essential to pro- tect puppies” health. If in- fected, puppies should be hospitalized and isolated from other dogs to avoid spreading the disease. Large amounts of bodily fluids are lost through vomiting and diarrhea, so patients are replenished with electrolytes through intravenous fluid therapy. Antibiotics are also need- ed to help prevent secondary infections. Other treatments include antiemetic medica- tion, plasma transfusions, or related therapies. You can protect your pup- py from this deadly virus by making sure they stay up-to-date on vaccinations. Limiting your puppy’s ex- posure to other dogs, as well as keeping a secure backyard that prevents strays or other potentially infected animals from entering will also de- crease the puppy’s risk of contracting the disease. Un- til your veterinarian declares it is safe, try keeping your puppy away from dog parks or other areas where there is a high concentration of dogs. If you think your puppy Canine Cargo Carrier www.getmypointllc.com 920-427-7774 Custom water and storage containers for your individual needs. The only full size 3 dog system that fits between the wheel wells of your truck, with a topper. Pods come in 2-3-5-6-8 boxes, that fit in the back of your truck. We can set up your trailer with larger Pods for all your dog transportation appli- cations. Customized dog handling systems are our specialty! Introducing Honeycomb Dog Boxes may be infected with parvovi- rus or has come in contact with another infected animal, contact your veterinarian for assistance. To prevent further spread of the disease, it may be necessary to remove your puppy’s toys, blankets, and other belongings from the environment. ®Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed. tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be direct- ed to [email protected]. I didn’t fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
