what causes canine parvovirus

The Baker Institute for Animal Health has a long history of working to prevent and treat canine parvovirus infection.

CPV is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. The cause of canine parvovirus in dogs lies in the CPV-1 and CPV-2 parvovirus. Many dogs will respond to medical therapy if it is initiated in a timely fashion, and those dogs that recover from CPV infection retain lifelong protective immunity against the strain that infected them. The virus manifests itself in two different forms.More common is the intestinal form of parvo in dogs, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and lack of appetite (anorexia).

In very young dogs, CPV can also infect the heart, leading to inflammation of heart muscle, poor function, and arrhythmias. A fecal sample is added to the chamber, and antibodies attach to parvovirus proteins that may be present in the stool. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases. During this time, your puppy should only socialize in private areas with fully vaccinated dogs.Avoid all public areas where dogs spend time, including the dog park, dog beach, pet stores, dog-friendly restaurants, farmers markets, and other dog-designated areas.Always pick up your dog’s feces immediately. Cleaning with a solution of one part bleach mixed with approximately 30 parts water is an acceptable method for disinfecting any indoor area (including bedding, food/water bowls, and all surfaces) that once housed an infected dog. To make matters worse, the body’s immune system is already weakened, as its ability to produce new white blood cells to combat infection has been hampered by the invasion of CPV into the bone marrow. Once in the bloodstream, the virus again targets rapidly dividing cells, hitting hardest in the bone marrow and in the cells that line the walls of the small intestine.

If your dog is experiencing bouts of bloody diarrhea and/or vomiting, CPV is only one of several potential culprits. There is evidence that the virus can live in ground soil for more than a year. These facts highlight the importance of isolating any dog that is infected with CPV from other dogs. Abdominal x-ray imaging may show intestinal obstruction, while an abdominal ultrasound may reveal enlarged You will need to give your vet a thorough history of your pet's health, vaccination history, recent activities, and onset of symptoms.It’s important to retrace your dog’s steps for both possible exposure and potential contamination. Less commonly seen is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of fetuses and very young puppies, often leading to death.The majority of cases of parvovirus are seen in puppies that are between 6 weeks and 6 months old. A more detailed resource for owners can be found at Infectious dogs can contaminate the environment, people, dishes, bedding, and collars and leashes, easily transmitting the disease to other dogs. For veterinarians, the Merck Veterinary Manual provides a Treatment often involves veterinary hospitalization. Though the ELISA test is fairly accurate, it is can occasionally produce false positive or false negative results, so further testing may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.

Since the disease is a viral infection, there is no real cure for it.

Outside, you cannot (and should not) bleach your lawn, but rain or watering can dilute the concentration of the virus over time. By 1981, Baker Institute scientists had created an improved attenuated vaccine for the disease.