Canine Parvovirus Types

Canine parvovirus mainly falls into two types: cardiac and enteric. Clinically, cardiac parvovirus is rarely seen because it occurs acutely and dogs often die quickly after the onset. The more common type in clinical practice is enteric parvovirus, which mainly presents with vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, dehydration, loss of appetite, lethargy, pain, and other symptoms.

Why Get Parvovirus

Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease with high contact transmission. It has a high mortality rate in dogs. Dogs of all ages can be infected, but those between weaning and 90 days old are more susceptible. Infection requires three conditions: coming into contact with sick pets or their excrement; the dog's resistance is weak, and young dogs or dogs with malnutrition are more susceptible; no vaccination or vaccine failure.

Symptoms of Parvovirus

The clinical manifestations of canine parvovirus mainly include two types: myocarditis and enteritis. Myocarditis: Generally without obvious symptoms, the dog may appear healthy on the surface but suddenly die due to heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart rhythm disorder, and difficulty breathing. Enteritis: The dog appears depressed, refuses to eat, vomits, has diarrhea, has a raised temperature, and the stool initially turns gray-yellow and later becomes tomato juice-like bloody stool with a distinctive fishy smell. Additionally, the dog will rapidly lose weight due to repeated diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration, sunken conjunctiva, and loss of skin elasticity.

How to Treat Parvovirus

Early specific therapy can be applied to treat canine parvovirus. Several research units in China have developed canine parvovirus monoclonal antibodies and canine parvovirus antiserum, which can be used in clinical practice and achieve good therapeutic effects. Treatments include fluid replacement, hemostasis, anti-vomiting, and preventing secondary infections. Drugs such as glucose and salt solution, hemopexin, vitamin K1, vitamin K3, gastrointestinal tranquilizer, gentamicin, kanamycin, and sulfa drugs can be used for symptomatic treatment. Blood transfusion therapy also has a good therapeutic effect on this disease.