Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious, potentially fatal, gastrointestinal disease. It is a formidable infectious disease, mainly affecting puppies (from 10 weeks to 6 months of age), and unvaccinated dogs. Although there are no studies that highlight the prevalence of canine parvovirus in Singapore, cases reported by local veterinary practices indicate that the 2 strains of the canine parvovirus that are predominant in Singapore are CPV-2a and CPV-2B.
Canine parvoviruses are hardy viruses that can survive extreme temperatures and are resistant to many disinfectants– thriving anywhere from months to years. However, these viruses are vulnerable to disinfectants like potassium peroxymonosulfate, and dilute bleach solutions.
Puppies are more at risk of being infected with CVP than adult dogs as their immune system are not fully developed.
Why are Puppies More Susceptible to Canine Parvovirus?
Puppies that are younger than 6 months old are more susceptible to canine parvovirus because their immune systems are not fully developed. However, the risk of contracting the disease is slightly less if the mother was vaccinated for parvovirus canine, as they may be protected by their mother’s antibodies. On the other hand, they do pose a high risk of contracting the disease if the mother is unvaccinated. That is why dog owners should refrain from bringing their puppies to:
Animal shelters.
Dog hotels or dog boardings.
Dog parks.
Obedience classes.
Whilst cumbersome, these precautionary measures are necessary to limit interactions with other dogs that may be carriers of CPV.
How is Canine Parvovirus Transmitted?
Transmission of CPV occurs via oronasal exposure to CPV-contaminated stools. This means that if your dog sniffs or licks an infected dog’s stools, they may get infected. CPV can also be transmitted via virus-contaminated surfaces (e.g. shoes, clothes or hands of a human who has been in contact with an infected dog) as it is capable of surviving for long periods under the right environmental conditions. Additionally, a pregnant dog which is infected with CPV can also transmit the virus to her foetus.
Canine parvovirus is a life-threatening gastrointestinal disease mostly affecting puppies, and unvaccinated dogs.
Symptoms of Canine Parvovirus
When a dog is infected with CPV there is an incubation period of 7-14 days, after which clinical signs progress rapidly. CPV has a predilection for rapidly growing in the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and heart muscle (myocardium). Some of the common symptoms indicating the proliferation of the virus include;
Profuse watery diarrhoea, which often progresses to bloody diarrhoea
Vomiting
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Fever
Unfortunately, these symptoms are considered universal as they overlap with other types of health conditions that can affect dogs. Thus, it is imperative for you to bring your dog to the vet as soon as symptoms are presented to allow prompt intervention and prevent disease progression.
Canine parvovirus produces symptoms such as fatigue, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, and bloody diarrhoea, which can lead to anaemia.
How Canine Parvovirus Affects Dogs
When the virus replicates in the bone marrow, it reduces the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A reduction in white blood cells can be detrimental, as these cells are responsible for fighting infections. As such, a decrease in numbers will make the puppy more susceptible to sepsis, and widespread inflammation within the body.
Sepsis can, in turn, cause widespread coagulopathies (clotting problems), which can be fatal. The puppy may also become anaemic due to loss of blood in the diarrhoea, and decreased production of red blood cells from the bone marrow.
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), on the other hand, is more likely to develop in puppies who are younger than 6 weeks old or when a dog is infected while pregnant. Although not common, some puppies may die from congestive heart failure a few weeks to months after presumptive recovery from CPV infection.
How is Canine Parvovirus Diagnosed?
A veterinarian may suspect a CPV infection if your dog has not been fully vaccinated and is showing common clinical signs associated with CPV. CPV can be easily tested with in-clinic tests, which detect the viral antigen in a fresh stool sample. False positives may sometimes occur in puppies that have been vaccinated recently. On the other hand, false negatives can occur early in the course of the disease, as the amount of viral shedding is not high yet.
A blood is often conducted to measure white blood cell count as a low number would confirm a CPV diagnosis.
What are the treatments for Canine Parvovirus?
Treatment for CPV is mainly supportive, and will usually require hospitalisation with intensive care. Treatment goals are to correct dehydration, control secondary infections, medicate to stop nausea, and diarrhoea, and administer adequate nutritional support. Where necessary, antibiotics may be administered intravenously or as injections, to address secondary infections in the intestines.
The best recommendation for improving a dog’s survival rate is intervention in the early stages. As viral infections do not have a definitive cure per se, supplementing your dog’s natural immune system with the necessary tools is pertinent to improving the chances of recovery.
Can I treat Canine Parvovirus at home?
Since CPV infection is a viral gastrointestinal infection, there are no home remedies that are available to treat dogs for CPV infection. In viral conditions such as CPV veterinarians often treat the symptoms to facilitate and support the dogs’ recovery as opposed to “curing” them of the disease. That is why visiting a licensed veterinarian, and admitting your dog to an animal hospital secures their chances of recovery.
Canine Parvovirus be Prevented?
Canine parvovirus vaccination, and hygiene are the best prevention steps against CPV infection. Additionally, canine parvovirus is also considered a core vaccination, defined as vaccines recommended for all dogs, irrespective of lifestyle (unless there is a specific medical reason not to vaccinate). For puppies, a full vaccination protocol starts when they are at least 6 weeks old and continues monthly until they are 16 weeks old.
Puppies, and dogs that have not been fully vaccinated should not be allowed to go outdoors. This includes no outdoor walks and no interaction with other dogs who have not been up-to-date on vaccination. These precautions, though they may be deemed extreme by some, are necessary as CPV is a very resistant virus.
Additionally, vaccination for pregnant dogs helps to protect both the mother as well as her foetuses. This is especially necessary if your pregnant dog has insufficient antibodies to fight the virus.
Aside from routinely disposing of your dogs’ faecal matter, it is just as important for you to disinfect your home, especially because CPV has a long survival rate on a multitude of surfaces. Fortunately, they are vulnerable to bleach, which is an inexpensive, yet highly effective disinfectant that can be found in almost every household. By mixing a cup of bleach with approximately 4 litres of water, you will have an indispensable solution that effectively kills CPV, so long as there is at least 10 minutes of contact time between the surface and the solution.
It is important to ensure that your dogs are vaccinated as it is the first line of defence against CPV infection.
How Many Shots of Canine Parvovirus Vaccination Do Puppies Need?
Vaccination starts at 6-8 weeks old, then monthly until 14-16 weeks old. All of these shots are essential to ensuring that your puppies are well-protected against CPV infections.
It is highly discouraged for you to miss or delay a shot for over 4 weeks, as it puts your puppies at risk of contracting the disease. In the event a booster shot is either missed or delayed for more than 6 weeks, then an additional booster will be administered 3 weeks following the continuation of the immunisation schedule.
Can a Dog Get Canine Parvovirus Twice in Its Lifetime?
Once your dog has been infected with CPV, it is highly unlikely that they will contract the disease a second time. This is because your dogs already have the necessary antibodies to fight off the infection in their system. Be that as it may, they still pose a risk of infecting other dogs with CPV infection for about 2 weeks after they have been discharged from the animal hospital. As such, you should isolate your dog during this time frame to prevent the virus from spreading.
After learning how fatal CPV infections can be, and how vital it is to ensure your dogs are vaccinated, Dr. Paws Vet Care strongly encourage all dog owners to ensure their canine friends’ vaccinations are up-to-date.
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