What is parvovirus?

Parvovirus is a gastrointestinal virus that mainly damages gastrointestinal epithelial cells, causing damage to the gastrointestinal tract, shedding of gastrointestinal mucosa and causing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Some parvoviruses can damage myocardial cells, leading to myocarditis and rapid death of puppies in a short period of time.
Parvovirus is mainly divided into two types of manifestations. One is the gastrointestinal type with vomiting and diarrhea as the main symptoms. It is more common in dogs of any age who have weak resistance to parvovirus. Another type of myocarditis with myocarditis as the main symptom is more common in puppies under 2 months old.

Parvovirus symptoms

The mortality rate after parvovirus infection can be as high as more than 50%, and the mortality rate for myocarditis type is close to 100%. Early symptoms include vomiting yellow water, watery loose stools, poor energy, and loss of appetite. When the condition worsens, symptoms such as soy sauce or ketchup-colored bloody stools, massive vomiting of gastric juice, vomiting of blood, loss of appetite, inability to lie down, severe dehydration, and even shock may occur.

Methods to Prevent Parvo in Puppies

Parvovirus mainly infects dogs that are not fully immunized, so the most important thing to prevent parvo is vaccination. And after injecting a complete set of vaccines, it is recommended to test the antibody strength to ensure safety.
Before the vaccination is completed, you should not take it out, limit your range of activities, and cannot take a bath. If you find another dog in a poor mental state or suspected of being sick when you go out for a dog walk, you should keep your distance from it.
Usually, probiotics can be kept at home and added to pet food to strengthen intestinal resistance.