Canine Parvo Virus Could Be Killing Your Dog

Online, February 21, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Canine Parvovirus Type 2, commonly called parvo, is a highly contagious virus that affects dogs and is spread through direct contact with feces. This virus has 2 forms which are the cardiac or intestinal form. Recent Parvovirus News

The intestinal form causes severe diarrhea and vomiting and the cardiac form causes heart and respiratory failure. As with most canine diseases, puppies are most susceptible and 80% of adult dogs with this illness shows no symptoms.

In the intestinal form, dogs become infected through ingestion of CPV2 in feces, the virus then replicates itself in the lymphoid tissues of the throat and then spreads to the bloodstream, where the virus attacks rapidly dividing cells.

Three to four days following infection, the virus is shed from the body via the feces for up to 3 weeks. If the dog is asymptomatic it will shed the virus periodically but the virus is much more deadly if the host is presently infected with worms or other intestinal parasites.

The cardia form is less common and affects puppies that have been infected in the uterus and up to 8 weeks of age. It attacks the heart muscles and the puppies die suddenly or after a short time of breathing difficulty.

Dogs infected with this disease show symptoms within 5-10 days and include vomiting, fever, diarrhea and lethargy. It is common for the dog to have a distinct odor in the later part of the illness, and any or all of these factors can lead to death of the dog. Lethargy is the first sign of the illness followed by loss of appetite accompanied with diarrhea and vomiting.

This virus is extremely viral and can survive in feces and other organic material for over a year and can withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures. The only known household disinfectant that can kill this virus is bleach.

As you can tell, this is a very serious matter and one that your pet should be vaccinated for regularly. After reading this myself, I am gonna check Freddie's records!

Source: EzineArticles

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