What is Parvovirus in Dogs?

Caitlin Spillers, DVM

Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that attacks the gastrointestinal system of dogs. It most commonly affects puppies, juvenile, and unvaccinated dogs. The virus attacks the intestinal lining and causes sloughing of the intestines and can even be fatal if left untreated or if treatment is started too late. When a dog tests positive for parvovirus, they are said to have “parvo.”

What are Symptoms of Parvovirus?

The most common symptoms of parvo are:

  • Diarrhea (often bloody)
  • Vomiting
  • Severe dehydration
  • Lethargy
  • Decreased appetite

Fever and abdominal pain are also common symptoms.

How is Parvovirus Transmitted?

Parvovirus is a highly resistant virus that can survive for long periods of time in the environment. Parvo is transmitted from feces, dog-to-dog contact, and environmental contact via feces of an infected dog.

Unfortunately, parvovirus is very common in Dallas, TX, and especially in areas with a high population of stray animals.

What To Do If Your Dog Has Parvovirus

If you suspect your dog has parvovirus, it is critical that you seek veterinary care immediately, as their symptoms can progress to life-threatening dehydration and widespread infection without medical intervention.

A rapid test can be performed that can determine if your dog has parvo in just 10 minutes!

How is Parvo Treated?

Unfortunately, since parvo is a viral infection, there is no single definitive cure for the virus itself. It is, however, critical to aggressively treat the symptoms and make the body as strong as possible to fight the virus itself.

Main treatments for parvo include:

  • Fluid therapy to correct dehydration
  • Anti-nausea medications
  • Appetite stimulants
  • Correcting electrolyte abnormalities
  • Controlling diarrhea

Some cases of parvovirus require multiple days of hospitalization, but outpatient therapy (sending medications and supportive care home) may be considered a viable option in some cases.

In 2023, the first USDA-conditionally approved monoclonal antibody was approved for the treatment of parvovirus, Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody™ (CPMA).

Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody™ (CPMA)

CPMA™ is the first and only USDA-conditionally approved monoclonal antibody treatment that targets canine parvovirus.

The goal of this treatment is to decrease the severity or length of parvo symptoms, therefore requiring less supportive care for our parvo patients overall and, hopefully, leading to higher success rates.

This is a single treatment that can be administered by your veterinarian if your pet tests positive for parvo.

The monoclonal antibody works by binding and blocking the virus from entering the intestinal cells (enterocytes) and destroying them. The injection helps reduce the length of sickness but does not treat the symptoms themselves (such as dehydration or pain), so this injection is considered an add-on treatment in addition to hospitalization and fluid therapy.

How Can I Prevent Parvovirus?

Vaccination is the best protection against parvovirus.

  • Puppies are not protected from a single vaccine!
  • Puppies require multiple boosters of the parvo vaccine, the last being at least 16 weeks of age to offer protection.
  • Continuing boosters of this vaccine throughout the life of your pet is critical to help avoid this disease.

Unfortunately, as with every vaccine, it is still possible, although very rare, for a fully vaccinated dog to acquire parvovirus.

How Metro Paws Protects Pets from Parvovirus

Metro Paws Animal Hospital has protocols in place to help maintain a safe and clean environment for all of our patients. These protocols include:

  • Decontamination of every exam room between each patient
  • Not allowing juvenile animals in common areas
  • Wearing appropriate protective equipment when a patient is either a parvovirus suspect or is confirmed positive

Further, a team of Metro Paws doctors performed a retrospective study on outcomes of outpatient therapy in parvovirus. This paper was published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and can be found here.

Environmental Decontamination

Your new puppy was just diagnosed with parvo and you have other pets at home that you need to protect—now what?

As mentioned above, parvovirus is highly resistant and can survive in the environment for a long time, so it is important to take precautions to keep everyone safe.

Steps for Environmental Cleaning:

  • Isolate your parvo-infected pup in a small, hard-floored area that can be easily disinfected.
  • Disinfect toys, bowls, bedding, and surfaces your dog touched in the week before diagnosis.
  • Use dilute bleach (1:30 ratio) with a 10-minute contact time to kill parvovirus on surfaces.
  • Clean up outdoor feces promptly and, if possible, walk other pets in a separate area.
  • Wear a designated pair of shoes and outerwear inside the isolation room and remove them before leaving to avoid spreading the virus.
  • Dispose of trash and fecal matter carefully in areas your other pets cannot access.
  • Wash your hands immediately after caring for your sick pup.
  • Prevent nose-to-nose or under-the-door contact between your infected puppy and other pets.

While caring for a parvo-positive puppy requires patience and strict precautions, it can be successfully managed. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our veterinary team with questions, they are your best resource for keeping your whole household safe.

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Questions or concerns? Contact us!