Parvovirus infection in dogs

Parvovirus infection in dogs is an acute highly infectious disease in dogs, first described in the early 1970s. The virus is prone to attack rapidly dividing cells, such as those lining the gastrointestinal tract.

Viruses in large quantities fall into the feces of an infected dog for several weeks after it enters the body. The disease is transmitted by oral contact with infected feces. Parvovirus can be transferred to the wool and paws of dogs, as well as contaminated shoes and other items. If the dog lapses the fecal material from the coat or anything that has been in contact with the infected feces, it becomes infected with parvovirus infection.

Parvovirus affects dogs of any age, but most often puppies between the ages of 6 and 20 weeks. Most often, this infection affects Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers, and they also have the most severe symptoms. The reason for the lower resistance of these breeds is unknown.

After the incubation period, which lasts 4-5 days, the acute phase of the disease begins with depression, vomiting and diarrhea. Some dogs do not have fever, and some may have a body temperature of 41.1 ° C. Puppies with severe pain in the abdomen can pull their paws under themselves. Diarrhea is very plentiful and contains mucus and / or blood. Dehydration can develop quickly.

Earlier, in this disease, the heart muscle was often affected in newborn puppies, but this happens very rarely at the present time. This happened because routine vaccination of females 2-4 weeks before mating increases the level of antibodies in the mother's body to such an extent that it provides better protection for puppies.

All puppies with sudden vomiting and diarrhea should be suspected of parvovirus infection. The most effective way to diagnose parvovirus infection is to identify viruses or viral antibodies in dog feces. For rapid veterinary diagnostics, serum analysis (ELISA) can be performed at the clinic. But sometimes there are false-negative results. Techniques with isolated virus isolation are more accurate, but require special laboratory equipment.

Treatment: dogs with this disease require intensive veterinary treatment. In most cases, despite the ease of symptoms, there is a need for hospitalization to correct the water-electrolyte balance. Often, intravenous administration of solutions and medications is required to control vomiting and diarrhea. In more severe cases, there is a need for transfusion of blood plasma and other types of intensive care.

Puppies and adult dogs should not eat or drink anything until they stop vomiting. But during this time they should receive a supporting volume of liquid. This may take 3-5 days. To prevent septicemia and other bacterial complications, which usually lead to death, antibiotics are prescribed.

Virulence depends on the virulence of a specific strain of parvovirus, the age and immune status of the dog, and also on how quickly the treatment was started. Most of the puppies who receive good treatment recover without complications.

Prevention: thorough cleaning and disinfection of the booth of the infected animal. Parvovirus is an extremely persistent virus that survives under the influence of most household cleaners and does not die on the surface for many months. The most effective disinfectant is a household bleach in 1:32 dilution. Before rinsing, it should remain on the infected surface for 20 minutes.

Vaccination, starting at 8 weeks, prevents most (but not all) cases of parvovirus infection. During the first weeks of life, puppies are protected by a high titer of maternal antibodies. As their level decreases, in the period from the first to the fourth week, puppies are more susceptible to infection due to the lack of action of the vaccine. The period of increased susceptibility in different puppies varies, so at the age of 6 to 20 weeks puppies may be most prone to developing parvovirus infection. Virtually all known cases of unsuccessful vaccination were due to the effect of parvovirus in the period of increased susceptibility.

The newest high-toxicity vaccines with a low passage can narrow the susceptibility window. These modified live vaccines contain a large number of viral particles (high titre) that are less attenuated (low passage; low-pass vaccines contain a large number of viral particles that are attenuated (or weakened) to a lesser extent than in conventional vaccines). This means that highly-latent low-pass vaccines generally can trigger a response of the immune system to puppies having a certain level of maternal antibodies that normally prevent such an answer.

Nevertheless, it is still important to maximally isolate small puppies from other dogs and from potential sources of infection until they are fully vaccinated against parvovirus infection at the age of 16 weeks.

Currently, according to the recommendations, a second immunization should be carried out one year after the first, and then a booster is given every three years.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]