The Truth About Parvo
Is there anything cuter than a puppy? The clumsy walk, the pudgy belly, the huge paws, the inquisitive nature, the excess amount of energy, their love—puppies are so much fun and such a handful. We can become so wrapped up in the excitement of a new puppy that we forget about how exposed they are to dangerous infections and diseases. One of the biggest threats for puppies is the Parvovirus.
The Parvovirus is everywhere; it could be living in your carpet from past tenants, in the park, or at the animal shelter where you adopted your pet. It can be anywhere. Parvo enters your puppy’s body via the mouth. Something as simple as eating food off the ground or cleaning itself is all it takes. The virus camps out in your puppy’s lymph nodes for a while until it has replicated enough to release into the bloodstream. At that point, the virus looks for new organs for the support it needs. It infects bone marrow causing destruction of young immune system cells. This makes the puppy’s immune system defenseless causing the GI tract to be hit hardest by the virus. The infection’s damage on the GI tract is most noticeable in the form of an intense case of diarrhea and vomiting. These two symptoms lead to dehydration. Untreated, the dehydration will result in shock and ultimately death. Another way the virus results in death is a result of the helpless immune system being invaded by bacteria, which releases septic toxins.
Sounds scary, right? It is, and very much so, but it’s no reason for alarm. The easiest (and cheapest) way to prevent Parvo is to vaccinate your puppy on schedule and to keep your puppy at home until the final 16-week vaccination is given. That means visits to the pet store; dog park, and visits from your friends’ dogs are not recommended. It is only after that last set of vaccines that your puppy has a strong enough immune system to fight off infections. If your puppy starts showing any symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, not wanting to eat, not wanting to drink; call a vet immediately. The most important thing you can do for your puppy is get it treated as soon as possible.
