Causes There are two
ways that this disease is transmitted, via contact with the soil or
infected feces. The feces of a dog infected with the canine parvovirus
will be infected as well and can carry the disease to others. Other
dogs don’t even need to come in contact with the feces of infected
dogs. The soil will absorb the virus from the feces, so animals can
still get sick, both with indirect or direct contact. Humans can’t get
canine parvovirus, but they can move the virus around. An example is
stepping in canine feces and carrying them in another location, on the
bottom of their shoes.
The problem with
this disease is that it’s very contagious and it will live for a lot of
time once it leaves the dog’s body. It can stay in the soil and still
be active one year after it’s eliminated in feces, and even if the
temperatures are extreme. Another problem is even after the dog
recovers, he will still be able to transmit the disease to other dogs
for the next few months. That’s why dogs that recover need to be kept
in isolation from other dogs for some time.
The places where
the dog has the most chances of getting sick are places where other
dogs go, like kennels, parks, dog shows, pet stores and shelters.
Between 3 and 10 days will pass between the time the dog gets infected
and the moment he will start displaying symptoms. Even though all dogs
can get this disease, those that have the highest risks are puppies
that are less than 4 months old and a few breeds that seem to be more
susceptible, like Dobermans or Rottweilers.
Diagnosis Every dog is
different and will begin the symptoms in different stages. Very few
dogs survive without any treatment of any kind. The veterinarian will
do a number of lab tests and will analyze the clinical signs to see if
the dog has canine parvovirus. He will also need to know what the
medical history of the dog is. You should tell the vet the exact
symptoms of the disease and how the dog behaves at home. They will try
to see if the diarrhea and vomiting don’t have other causes, after
which they will do the tests needed to find out if he has canine
parvovirus or not.
To find out if
he has an infection or not, they will have to do some blood tests. They
will also take samples of the dog’s feces, to see if they can find any
sign of canine parvovirus in them. One of the tests that will be done
is the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay), a biochemical
technique that will detect the existing antigens and antibodies. They
will use an electron microscope to see if the virus is there. With bots
tests, the veterinarian will be able to find if the virus exists in the
dog. If the dog was never vaccinated for this disease, the veterinarian
will probably be able to find out if he has the virus just by seeing if
he has an infection or bloody diarrhea.
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is
not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making
a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for
confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
