Maggie Mudd, from Boksburg SPCA, answered some questions about this canine disease:
What are the symptoms of canine parvovirus?
The dog will become lethargic, may begin to vomit and won’t feel like eating; but the most tell-tale symptom is the bloody, foul-smelling diarrhoea that can make the dog severely dehydrated and lead to its death if not treated soon enough.
Can parvovirus spread to other dogs?
Parvovirus is extremely contagious and can be transmitted by any person, animal or object that comes into contact with the infected dog’s faeces. Shoes for example, by the wearer stepping in the area where the animal has defecated and then walking around with the disease attached to the shoe’s under surface, is a sure way to spread this disease.
The virus can live for months in a person’s yard and all items that have been in contact with the dog’s faeces, such as food or water bowls, blankets, kennels, etc., must be disinfected correctly or, if possible, destroyed or thrown away.
How can parvovirus be prevented?
Puppies, adolescent dogs and canines that haven’t been vaccinated are the most susceptible to the virus, so ensuring that your puppies are adequately and fully vaccinated is the way to prevent this horrible and deadly disease. A common vaccine called a ‘5 in 1’ will protect against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. With no vaccine, the dog has no defence against this viral onslaught.
What must I do if I think my dog has parvovirus?
Take the dog immediately to the nearest veterinarian and let him or her inspect the animal and determine what could be wrong. Remember to advise the vet if the dog has been vomiting and not eating – and especially if the dog has the terrible smelling, bloody diarrhoea that characterises Parvovirus.
