In my rescue work, I have seen many cases of Parvo. I think one of the biggest mistakes that people make is taking puppies, who are not fully vaccinated, to public places. The next biggest mistake is not understanding the vaccine protocol.
I constantly see sweet little innocent puppies on the floors of Pet Stores and Vet Hospitals and worry. Although you can vaccinate for Parvo before 12 weeks of age, puppies are not protected against the Parvo virus until they are at least 20 weeks old.
For a Parvo vaccine to be effective:
+12 weeks of age: Vaccinate
+16 weeks of age: Booster
+20 weeks of age: Parvo vaccine fully absorbed and effective
The immunities the pups receive from their mother's colostrum actually interferes with the effectiveness of the Parvo vaccine given before 12 weeks of age.
The recommendation now is to limit a pup's exposure to unknown or under vaccinated dogs (or to places traveled by unknown or under vaccinated dogs) until the pup is over 20 weeks old. It is why many respectable doggie daycares will not accept dogs under 20 weeks of age.
Parvo can be found just about anywhere. It can be found at pet stores, public parks, walking trails, sidewalks and your neighbor's yard. It can be transferred from yard to yard by utility company meter readers, postal workers, or neighborhood kids. It can also come in on car tires and delivery vehicle tires.
Most often Parvo enters your home on people's shoes.
Before handling our puppies, I ask that everyone wash their hands. I wash linens used in the Puppy Room daily in bleach and a double rinse. I ask everyone to leave their shoes at the entry way into the Puppy Room.
Since I work in rescue, I step into a pan of bleach water before entering my home or backyard and wash my Rescue Tennis Shoes often in bleach.
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From http://www.petfinder.com/ :Parvovirus (Parvoviral Enteritis or "Parvo," for short) is a virus causing severe infection in puppies and dogs.
It invades and destroys rapidly growing cells in the intestine, bone marrow and lymphoid tissue resulting in nausea, vomiting and severe hemorrhagic (bloody) diarrhea. The invasion of the bone marrow cells causes a decrease in the white blood cell count leading to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections and sometimes to a shock-like condition called endotoxemia. The disease can vary from mild to fatal if not properly treated.
Parvovirus is extremely contagious to other dogs. Infection is generally attributed to ingestion of material contaminated by dog feces and can occur when a dog smells or licks the ground. Direct contact with another dog is not necessary for infection. Parvovirus is shed in the feces of infected dogs for approximately two weeks after initial ingestion and can live in the environment for years. The virus is species specific and is not contagious to cat or humans.
Dogs at highest risk for infection are unvaccinated puppies or those who have not yet completed their vaccine series. It is most common in dogs less than 8 months old. Especially susceptible breeds include Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, German shepherd, Staffordshire terriers, Black Labrador Retrievers, and dachshunds. Dogs of all ages can be infected, but puppies and younger dogs are most susceptible. Intact male dogs may also be susceptible for unknown reasons.
Unsanitary and/or overcrowded kennels may increase chance of infection and concurrent infection with parasites, other bacteria or viruses may also increase susceptibility to infection. Proper vaccination of your pet can best prevent the disease. Parvovirus is an acute and serious disease, not a chronic condition. Virtually all cases need proper diagnosis and hospitalization. If your pet is having active symptoms, it is important to see your veterinarian. Parvovirus can be fatal if not properly treated.
What to Watch For
Clinical signs generally are seen 3 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
Signs may include:
+Depression
+Fever
+Loss of appetite (anorexia)
+Vomiting
+Diarrhea (often containing foul-smelling blood)
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually based on clinical signs. Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize parvovirus, and exclude other diseases.
Tests may include:
+Complete medical history and physical examination
+Testing the feces for the presence of the virus
+Blood tests and abdominal X-rays to determine the severity of the infection or exclude other causes of the symptoms
Preventative Care
Keep your dog away from fecal waste of other dogs when walking along neighborhood streets or parks.
If your dog leaves his own "deposit" be sure to remove it and dispose of it at home.You should also minimize contact of unvaccinated puppies with other dogs that may be sick or unvaccinated.
This should include avoiding areas where other sick pets may have been (parvo can live in the environment for 2 years). Your pet is most at risk until fully vaccinated (usually 20 to 24 weeks of age).
The virus is extremely resistant to many disinfectants. The recommendation for cleaning areas possibly contaminated with parvovirus include diluted bleach (diluted to 1 part bleach to 20 parts water) and quaternary ammonium disinfectants (such as Roccal-D, Parvosol, and others).
