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Dog Parvo - The Deadliest Viral Disease of Dogs

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Dog Parvo - The Deadliest Viral Disease of DogsBy Steven Grey

The dog parvo virus is probably the most common viral illness of dogs at the moment. The virus is extremely small (the Latin word for small is "parvo") - just a few grams of stool can contain millions of virus particles. The dog parvo virus has been known and identifiable since the late 70's and can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with vomit or diarrhea from an infected dog.

The Canine parvovirus (CPV), also refered to as "the dog parvo", attacks the intestinal tract, white blood cells, and in some rare cases the heart muscle. The common form of the dog parvo has a predilection for rapidly dividing cells (similar to cancer) such as the cells of intestinal lining and that is why it causes diarrhea and ulcerative enteritis. When the virus lashes out and attacks this type of cells, it makes dogs and puppies not being able to assimilate or absorb nutrients or liquids.

Symptoms of the dog parvo can take anywhere between 7 to 10 days before they are visible. In the early stages, symptoms that are likely to be noticed by the dog owner are a lack of energy and a loss of appetite. As a result, dogs infected with the parvo virus will soon show clear symptoms of dehydration and malnutrition. As the virus spreads, the dog parbo symptoms are characterized by high fever, severe diarrhea, quite often bloody, vomiting, lethargy and severe dehydration. If your dog, however especially and particulary your new puppy, begins exhibiting any of these symptoms, see a veterinarian right away. Because even though the dog parvo virus can also infect adult dogs, it is more often found in small puppies because of their low immune system. Parvovirus requires swift action to help an infected dog survive as when parvo is involved, every hour counts.

The severity of the disease depends upon the age of the dog, presence of maternal antibody, size of the virus dose and the breed of the infected dog. Though many dogs become highly ill due to this viral disease, breeds like Doberman Pinschers and Pit Bull Terriers may reveal clinical symptoms to a very severe degree.

According to conventional veterinarians, there is no known cure for the dog parvo. Conventional treatment is, therefore, mostly supportive and consists ofmaintaining the dog's body fluids, balancing electrolyte levels and maintaining body temperature. But even if a dog or canine survives the initial bout of dog parvo, there is still a high risk of collapsing during the recovery period. You should get your dog immunized to protect them in case they come into contact with dogs that have the illness. Most veterinarians recommend that young puppies to be vaccinated every 3 to 4 weeks beginning when the pup is 6 weeks of age and continuing until it is 20 weeks old.

The dog parvo virus is most common in places where dogs congregate, such as parks, animal shelters or even at dog shows. Dogs may take in the virus from sniffing or consuming contaminated fecal matter, from cleansing himself, or from consuming food off the ground or flooring. That is why dogs that spend their time confined to a house or a yard and are not in contact with other dogs have much less odds of exposure to the canine parvo virus. You must also be aware of the fact that the dog parvo virus may be even brought home to your dog on shoes and even automobile tires. If you allow your dog to live outside, then remember to alter drinking water (H20) on a frequent and regular basis because there is a odds that the water (H20) can contain parvo virus (carried by birds on their feets or feathers or in their feces).

CPV is very resistant and can remain in feces-contaminated ground for five months or more if conditions are favorable.

Be aware of the fact that the dog parvo symptoms resemble other diseases (like poisoning or worms) and are often misdiagnosed. The only way to know if a dog or canine has the Parvo virus is through a positive diagnostic test.

For more information, visit http://dog-parvo.blogspot.com - a website dedicated to inform pet owners about Dog Parvo. The website contains articles on symptoms, treatments and prevention.

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Dog Parvo Symptoms - Treatment & Prevention

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Dog Parvo Symptoms - Treatment & PreventionBy Dominic Essex

So you just got a new dog and for some sudden reason you think it might have dog parvo. There are a few ways to come up with a conclusion by simply identifying its symptoms. There are different illnesses dogs can get however one of the worst among those is dog parvo. The first symptoms of Parvo are a loss of appetite, dehydration, depression and fever. The dog will soon worsen and begin to vomit and have diarrhea. In most cases the diarrhea will be gray or yellow with streaks of blood. Most dogs that have the dog parvo symptoms will often also have a bloody stool which is not a good thing and needs medical attention rite away. The virus will first attack the lining of the digestive and immune system. A dog with this disease will often stop eating and start to lose weight. Many cases lead to death. In some cases the dog can later contract congestive heart failure as a result. This can even happen years after a dog has seemingly recovered from Parvo.

How To Diagnose Dog Parvo

If you notice any dog with the symptoms of Parvo you should immediately get that dog tested for the dog parvovirus. There are numerous other causes why a dog might have diarrhea and/or be vomiting. If a dog does have Parvo it should be testedand diagnosed right away and kept away from other dogs.The main diagnose done to treat an infected dog with the canine parvovirus is to keep it hydrated. Fliuids are usually applied by an IV or injected with a needle periodically. Because Parvo is a virus it can not be cured and the only thing that can be done is to treat and manage the parvo symptoms and keep the dog hydrated until the disease has run its course.

How To Prevent Dog Parvo

To help prevent your dog/dogs from getting Parvo is to give them a vaccination against the virus giving it to them at 8,12 and 16 weeks old and maintain them indoors for the first few months of their lives. Always keep their food and H2O bowls clean. There is a home remedy to clean the bowls with bleach and H2O which should kill the parvo virus.

Dominic is a dog lover and has a passion for caring for dogs.For more info on dog symptoms visit my blog Dog Symptom

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Dog Parvo Symptoms

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Dog Parvo SymptomsBy Ian Pennington

Speak of Parvovirus and you will scare any pet lover. This lethal and threatening virus has been the culprit behind the deaths of millions of puppies and dogs. Once a dog or canine is infected with this, you must likely panic and make way to kill the parvovirus. Dogs have to get through survival of the fittest and be parvovirus-free.

Majority of dogs get parvovirus through intestinal infections however you must be aware of dog parvo symptoms and take action at the earliest chance.

Dog parvo symptoms are experienced when your dog has ingested a form a virus that is present in contaminated feces and soil. Once this accumulates in your dog's lymphatic system, it triggers the parvovirus to ruin the physical bodily systems. Some intestinal dog parvo indicators are noticeable when your healthy dog suddenly becomes weak and uninterested to mingle around. This early sign could be enough to alarm you to have your dog checked.

When you see your dog vomiting violently without you being able to control it, then he must be sick. Dog parvo symptoms are also manifested in the severity of diarrhea. Your dog will likely dispose every now and then even if his tract is cleaned already. There are cases when the bowel spasms are mixed with blood.

Generally, dog parvo symptoms are detected earlier than the parvovirus could worsen the situation. These signs include absence of appetite, anxiety and depression and loneliness. All dogs are naturally affectionate and playful with their owners. When you see your small puppy secluding himself in a lonely spot or not eating his favorite food, then he must have been inflicted with parvovirus. So you must seek theadvice of your veterinarian.

High fever can also be attributed by high presence of parvovirus in your dog, so you must be alarmed when this thing happens. Before dog parvo symptoms could thoroughly ruin the dog's dividing cells and threaten the rest of the human body tissues, you have to give treatments prescribed by your vet. Mostly, puppies are largely inflicted by this virus because of their low immune system. Canine parvovirus is contagious among dogs through contact with feces, so you must be on the lookout of your dog's whereabouts.

Giving your dog's vaccinations can protect him from getting parvovirus and show dog parvo symptoms. Do not wait until your dog's life is endangered. Usually, parvovirus will tend to dehydrate your dog. There are cases when dogs obtain the virus from a bird that lays feces on the backyard. If you don't ensure the cleanliness of your surroundings, there is a odds that your dog could be contacted to the bird's feces that contains the virus. You also have to provide clean water (H20) to your dogs from time to time because there are instance when water (H20) contains parvovirus.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about dog parvo, please visit Dogs and Their Owners for current articles and discussions.