Canine parvovirus — or parvo, as it’s commonly called — is a serious disease that can ultimately prove fatal if not treated urgently. Parvovirus is a gastrointestinal illness that’s caused by contact with contaminated materials; quite often, that can be the feces of an infected animal.

Parvovirus can be prevented by a puppy-age vaccination, but if your dog hasn’t been vaccinated, you should be aware that your pet is at great risk of becoming contaminated by this horrible condition. An unvaccinated puppy has a high chance of getting canine parvovirus, and therefore becoming seriously unwell.

There are two different types or strains of canine parvovirus — intestinal and cardiac. Intestinal is the more common version, and can affect any unvaccinated dog. Cardiac canine parvovirus is relatively rare and occurs in puppies aged eight weeks and under; puppies may even be affected before birth.

Make no mistake, if your dog has been diagnosed with canine parvovirus, this is a life-threatening situation that usually requires emergency treatment. On this page, we’ll explain what causes parvo in dogs, how to quickly identify symptoms, and what type of treatment your pet will need to recover.

As we know, canine parvovirus can get very serious, very quickly. Fail to act fast enough, and your dog can soon become extremely ill, even fighting for its life. So, it can be critically important to understand what the typical symptoms of parvo in dogs are. If you suspect your pup is showing one or some these recognised canine parvovirus symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your vet immediately. Do it straight away!

Symptoms of parvo in dogs include:

A pet infected with parvovirus may develop a fever and behave lethargically, possibly refusing food within the first few days of infection. Within 24-48 hours, copious vomiting and diarrhea may occur; this often contains blood in the later stages.

If not promptly and effectively treated, the dehydration, septic shock, and stress on the animal’s heart can sadly be fatal. See a veterinarian immediately if parvovirus is suspected, as this condition carries an 80% mortality rate if untreated.

Parvovirus is highly contagious and can spread quickly — often either by direct contact between dogs, or indirectly, via the feces of an infected animal or even by cross-contamination of other surfaces. Canine parvovirus can be present on food and water bowls, on collars and dog leashes, and many other items that come into contact with an infected dog.

It’s a tough virus, too, not easily removed. Parvovirus can exist for months. So, if you have more than one dog in your household and one of your pets is infected with parvo, you should ideally remove and destroy all bowls, bedding and toys to reduce risk of transmission as much as possible. Cleaning may not be enough to eliminate the virus; canine parvovirus is understood to be resistant to many domestic cleaning products.

With parvo in dogs capable of spreading so rapidly and easily, it could be suggested that the biggest cause of canine parvovirus is a failure to get a pet vaccinated. While a vaccinated dog can still get parvo, the risk of contamination reduces significantly and the vaccination is highly effective — and recommended. It really is the very best parvo prevention in puppies.

The canine parvovirus vaccination schedule is three shots during the first 16 weeks of a puppy's life, with the first dose being delivered at the 6-8 week stage. Booster jabs are needed when a dog is aged 12-16 months, and then every three years, to provide the best possible protection.

How is canine parvovirus diagnosed?

Firstly, your vet is likely to suspect a case of parvo based on the symptoms your dog is displaying. The veterinarian will want to know your dog’s history; if your pet is young, or unvaccinated, for example, or recently adopted from a shelter or location with other dogs in close contact, these are all red flags and could point to canine parvovirus.

The vet will then typically use fecal testing to confirm parvo. The fastest method is using something called a SNAP ELISA test, which can very quickly detect parvo in dogs — usually between 10-15 minutes. You should be aware that in the early days of infection, the test may present a false-negative, so a dog could be quarantined even if the first test is negative. The veterinarian will likely admit the dog to an animal hospital based on the severity of the case.

If canine parvovirus is confirmed and diagnosed, swift treatment will follow.

Parvo treatment for dogs needs to be fast — if so, depending on the severity of the condition, it can be effective. There’s no actual cure for canine parvovirus — as it’s a viral infection. Instead, a treatment plan is designed to support the dog as much as possible to aid recovery.

This primarily involves keeping a dog hydrated and preventing secondary bacterial infections — such as sepsis, which can be fatal. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances from vomiting and diarrhea pose the most immediate risk to a dog’s health.

Electrolyte solutions can be administered orally if the dog’s vomiting is not too severe, and the vet believes your pet can ‘keep it down’. Dogs with moderate to severe dehydration and/or copious vomiting will need an IV carrying replacement electrolytes, as severely infected dogs lose the ability to effectively absorb water and nutrients through the gut. 

Blood sugar and potassium should be monitored and supplemented via IV if necessary. In severe cases, GI protein loss below 20g/L will require colloid therapy such as pentastarch. Additionally, anti-emetics to control vomiting may be prescribed along with antibiotics to treat any opportunistic infections.

During the treatment process, dogs infected with canine parvovirus must be kept isolated from other animals to prevent the virus spreading. Your dog may be hospitalized for a few days, and monitored closely while fighting the disease.

Treating parvo in dogs is typically the difference between life and death. Get support for treatment costs with a comprehensive pet insurance plan. Use Wag! compare to find the best cover, at the best price, today.

Canine parvovirus is a horrible disease that can be fatal for dogs. But, providing the virus is diagnosed quickly and treatment is administered swiftly, a dog can recover from parvo. In fact, given the correct care, it’s thought that the survival rate is as high as 80-90%.

Puppies that are treated swiftly and survive the first 3-4 days of the infection may be able to make a full recovery. Once vomiting has subsided for 12-24 hours, easy-to-digest foods that are low in fat may be given at the recommendation of the veterinarian, such as cottage cheese, boiled chicken, and rice. The companionship and attention of the owner will help reduce stress in a dog that’s recovering from illness.

Although dogs who recover from parvovirus are immune to reinfection, the amount of contamination they have spread may be significant, and the dog itself remains contagious for up to six weeks.

Parvovirus is difficult to kill, being resistant to many common cleaners and disinfectants. In normal humidity at room temperature the virus can remain dangerous for months. All cleanable materials should be washed with a 1:10 bleach solution or an accelerated peroxide.

All non-cleanable material should be disposed of such that no other animals can come in contact with it. Owners should take extreme care in washing their hands and cleaning the soles of shoes before leaving the area after petting their dog or cleaning up contaminated areas.