What is parvovirus?
Parvovirus is, as its name suggests, a canine disease caused by parvoviruses. These are viruses that are extremely resistant to common disinfectants and cause very serious hemorrhagic gastroenteritis that can lead to the death of infected dogs. The disease is particularly dangerous for puppies and in unvaccinated dogs.
Parvovirus: a crippling defect in dogs
Parvovirus is one of the diseases listed on the dog's "redhibitory vices" list. In other words, the purchaser of a dog affected by this disease is legally en titled to request the cancellation of the sale from the seller.To do this, the purchaser must have a certificate of suspicion drawn up by his veterinarian within 5 days after the acquisition and request a redhibition action within 30 days following the acquisition if the disease of the animal is confirmed.
Dog parvovirus: causes and mode of contamination
Parvovirus is a disease caused by canine parvovirus type 2 also called Canine ParvoVirus 2 or CPV 2.
This virus is disseminated in the external environment by the excrement of an infected dog and can resist it for up to several months if the climatic conditions are favorable to its survival.
The disease is transmitted orally: by licking the stool or vomit of a sick animal or by contact with objects contaminated with the virus. It is therefore an extremely contagious disease, especially in dogs that live in communities (kennels, shelters, farms, pet shops, exhibitions, etc.).
The virus then spreads through the animal's body via the lymphatic route and then lodges in the digestive epithelial cells and bone marrow. It then causes a destruction of intestinal cells and cells present in the bone marrow preventing the production of white blood cells, immune cells that help fight infections.
When the virus infects very young puppies, it can also lodge in the heart and cause myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
Certain dog breeds are much more susceptible to parvovirus than others. These are the Rottweiler, the Doberman and the Staffordshire Terrier.
What are the symptoms of parvovirus in dogs?
Once the dog is infected, the virus replicates rapidly and spreads throughout the body in just 4 to 7 days.
It will cause high fever (>40°C), loss of appetite and very strong depression.It is also at the origin of the appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and haemorrhagic vomiting which will only accentuate the weakening of the animal affected by parvovirosis and which will be at the origin of a significant dehydration of the dog.
The signs are generally more marked in puppies than in adult dogs.
The disease ends well, resulting in the rapid death of the animal in 10 to 20% of cases, or even more in susceptible breeds.
What treatment for canine parvovirus?
There is no specific treatment for parvovirus. The veterinarian will only focus on treating the symptoms of the infection and supporting the animal's vital functions. The latter will need intensive care and hospitalization during which the veterinarian will focus on:
- rehydrate the animal, often in a state of dehydration due to diarrhea and repeated vomiting.Loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms quickly deplete the body's reserves so that the dog finds himself in hypoglycemia (abnormally low sugar level in the blood) and in deficit of trace elements such as sodium, potassium and chlorine. Very often, the veterinarian will therefore have to perfuse the animal with fluids and glucose to correct digestive losses, electrolyte disorders and hypoglycaemia.
- administer anti-emetic drugs (to prevent him from vomiting) as well as intestinal dressings to relieve the digestive mucous membranes damaged by the viral infection.
- implement antibiotic treatment when other infections complicate the disease.
Preventing parvovirus through vaccination
In order to protect yourself from the disease, there is an effective vaccine. It can be done from the puppy's 6-8 weeks with a reminder every 3-4 weeks until the age of 16 weeks. The vaccination protocol generally requires an annual booster.
The period between the 8thweek and the 12thweek of the puppy is really the most critical because the puppy is no longer effectively protected by the mother's antibodies but the latter inhibit the vaccine until the 12th week. Caution is therefore more important than ever to keep your little companion in top shape!
While waiting for his vaccination, the precautionary principle applies: avoid putting him in contact with potentially sick unvaccinated dogs - especially between his 8ththand its 12th week - and disinfect all objects soiled by feces with bleach, the only disinfectant truly effective against the virus.