How to Prevent Parvo in Dogs is one of those questions that dog breeders as well as dog lovers everywhere are asking. Canine parvo (or commonly known as parvo virus) is probably one of the biggest threat to dog health in recent history. Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to prevent. This viral infection was first discovered in early 1967 and has quickly become a massive threat to canine wellness. Thankfully, there are several ways you can protect your dog from parvo virus infection.
Parvo is most contagious in dogs that have been unsupervised or were returned to their owners following an unsuccessful treatment. Dogs can contract this disease in any number of ways including: walking barefoot, sharing water and food, and touching an object that has been infected with the disease. It is important that you always supervise your puppies when playing outdoors and always make sure they are examined and treated if sick. If you notice the symptoms of this disease to begin with, take your dog to the vet immediately. He will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment for your beloved pet.
The symptoms of parvo in dogs include lethargy, loss of appetite, constant licking, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and constant head shaking. These symptoms may appear shortly after the onset of the disease and last up to two days. Each time your dog shows these symptoms, he should be taken in for a full examination. Treatment of this canine disease begins with vaccinations and can be given in a variety of ways depending on the severity of the condition. The most common vaccinations recommended for parvo in dogs include Doxycyclone, Distemper combo, and Canine Parvo.
Veterinarians will administer a Doxycyclone injection into their dog’s chest to treat the symptoms of parvo in dogs which include lethargy. Since lethargy is the primary symptom of this condition, this will usually bring an immediate response from your dog. However, since this is a viral disease it can remain dormant and reappear at any time without any clinical signs.
In a more severe case of parvo in dogs, distemper combo or Coccidioides may be administered. These medications work on the underlying cause of the condition and are used as prophylaxis against the virus. In a severe case, both Doxycyclone and Coccidioides are typically issued to the dogs. However, in less severe cases either or both of these drugs can be used.
To diagnose parvovirus in dogs, it is important that tests be run to determine if the symptoms are due to parvoviruses or other diseases. Blood tests are usually the first steps because the antibody levels in the blood will determine if the antibodies are needed to fight off the parvo virus. When parvo has been diagnosed and is in its early stage, a culture of the spleen can be taken to see if the disease has spread into the liver. If the test shows no abnormalities, park is considered chronic and treatment will be ongoing.
In most cases, treatment of parvo usually requires administration of a mixture of antibiotics and steroids. There are side effects associated with these drugs, and it is always best to consult your veterinarian to discuss the possible side effects with him or her. In general, the most common side effect of parvo treatment is diarrhea. As the incubation period of the parvo virus is usually around seven days, it can take up to a week to notice any symptoms. Any medication given to your dog during the incubation period should be continued for the entire seven days to make sure that all symptoms are gone.
If you’re wondering how to prevent parvo in dogs, there are a few tips. One is to always feed your dog’s commercial food or treats, which will help protect them from this disease. Another tip is to try to isolate any sick dogs from the rest of the dogs as soon as possible. If the disease has spread, isolate them so they don’t infect anyone else. Lastly, treat the disease immediately after diagnosis to minimize the chance of it spreading to other dogs.
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