What it is
Parvovirus spreads in the faeces of an infected dog. It is enough for a puppy to sniff or lick a spot where faeces have been, or for the virus to be carried home on shoes, hands or objects. The virus is very hardy: on the ground and on objects it stays infectious for months, and ordinary cleaning products do not destroy it.
Inside the body the virus attacks cells that divide quickly. The gut lining is damaged so badly that it no longer holds back fluid or bacteria, and in the bone marrow the white blood cells that protect against infection fall in number. That is why the disease hits hardest in puppies, whose bodies are not yet ready to fight it, and in dogs that have not been vaccinated.
Until a puppy has finished the vaccinations its vet has planned, avoid places where many unknown dogs relieve themselves and don't introduce it to dogs whose health you don't know. Your vet can tell you about vaccination against parvovirus and its timing. If your dog falls ill, keep it apart from other dogs and ask the vet how to clean your home and garden.
Signs you may notice
- Sudden lethargy and refuses food
- Repeated vomiting
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Fever, or feels cold to the touch
- Painful belly
The dog suddenly turns lethargic and refuses food, vomits again and again and has diarrhoea that is watery, bloody and very foul-smelling. It may run a fever or, on the contrary, feel cold to the touch, and its belly may be painful. If you see these signs, don't wait: take the dog to a vet right away.
When to see a vet
A puppy or unvaccinated dog that is vomiting, has diarrhoea and is lethargic needs a vet immediately, day or night. Phone the clinic before you arrive and say you suspect parvovirus, so the dog is not kept in the waiting room among other animals.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.