Parvovirus Fact Sheet

• Contagious to dogs only-not to cats or people.
• Signs include vomiting, fever and bloody diarrhea with a very foul odor.
• The younger the dog, the greater the chance that he or she will NOT recover.
• The virus may attack the heart muscle causing myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
• The virus is transmitted through the feces of an infected dog. It can be carried on dog's hair and feet as well as live on contaminated rugs, bedding, shoes and other objects.
• Dogs with canine parvovirus infection shed massive amounts of virus in the feces.
• An effective disinfectant is 4 ounces Clorox in one gallon of water.
• Dogs remain highly susceptible to Parvo until two weeks after the last injection of the immunization series.
• Death from Parvo may result from:
  • Dehydration
  • Overwhelming bacterial infection from the dog's lowered resistance.
  • Blood loss from internal hemorrhage.
  • Heart attack from invasion of the heart muscle by the virus.
• Treatment is aimed at maintaining the normal body composition and preventing secondary bacterial infection. We have no cure for any animal virus, just as there is no cure for any human virus.
• The body normally is about 80% water. Life is NOT possible when 12-15% of the normal body fluids are lost. In Parvovirus, the dog often becomes "dehydrated" from the vomiting, diarrhea and inability to consume fluids. This is the reason fluid therapy is so important in Parvovirus therapy.