New Strain of Parvo Virus Threatening Dogs?
September 15, 2014
by Kelly
You may have heard about it from friends or coworkers there is a new strain of Parvo. The Parvo virus has infact mutated, but this is nothing new to the veterinary community. CPV-2c is a new strain of Parvo that was first discovered in Italy in 2000, which first made its grand appearance in the United States in 2006.
Why the New Strain goes Undiagnosed
The new strain of Parvo can go undiagnosed if your veterinarian doesn’t have the updated tests for the new strain, leaving everyone wondering what is wrong with your dog. This will ultimately raise your vet bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars resulting only in the death of your beloved family dog. The Parvo virus has a very distinct onset of symptoms that every owner should be aware of and able to watch out for.
Parvo Symptoms
Parvo symptoms are swift and lethal, vomiting, severe diaherrea which will often be bloody and sometimes appear with mucous, lethargy, loss of appetite including not wanting to drink water, and fever. You need to get your dog to the vet within the first 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, most dogs die within the first 48-72 hours.
How is Parvo Treated
There is no cure for Parvo, when your dog starts to show an onset of symptoms it is important to get them to your local veterinarian immediately so you can start IV fluids. Treatment for diaherrea, vomiting, and antibiotics for any secondary infections the Parvo has caused. This will mean a high vet bill, and given the survival rate for Parvo is around 50% some pet owners must weigh the decisions on continuing treatment, or humanely putting their beloved animal down.
How to Prevent Parvo
Parvo is highly transmittable it can be carried on dogs, humans, collars, food, kennels, and toys. It can stay on the ground or surfaces for years without proper cleaning and sanitation being done. If you have one infected dog you need to make sure you take any dogs you have that have not become infected yet to the vet for a distemper booster quickly. Second you need to throw away all toys, and food that the dog may have come into contact with. Gather up all bedding, blankets and wash them with ½ a cup of chlorine bleach, and dry them on the highest setting to make sure you efficiently kill the virus. Grab a pooper scooper and clean up any and all fecal matter from the yard. If you find spots of loose stool that you cannot get with the scooper you can use a mixture of half bleach and half water, this will kill the grass but it will also kill the virus. The parvo virus can lie dormant in your soil for months, but since your dogs have been sick and revaccinated you are now protected. I would advise against letting any new dogs come to your home without making sure they have had recent vaccinations against parvo.
Does the Vaccine Protect against the New Strain?
This is highly debated in the veterinary community, and it depends on which veterinarian you ask. Some will tell you yes, the vaccine will protect your dog while others will tell you no. This does not matter on whether or not to vaccinate against parvo as the vaccination protects against other strains. The only thing you can do to prevent against this strain of parvo is to remember you keep your dog up to date on vaccinations, and never take it around other sick animals.
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