by Linda Spradlin

Created on: February 11, 2009

How to treat canine parvovirus

I was busy doing my Helium ratings today, while watching over my daughter who has the flu. I've been exposed to the flu, and I'm allergic to the flu vaccine. It's been a bad day. Then I saw this topic, and I could very easily flip out over it. This is the most rediculous topic I've ever seen on Helium. I'm dissappointed that it's even here.

Helllllloooooooooooo people! They have a ten dollar vaccination for this! They even offer this vaccine in less developed countries. What are you thinking? Why did these dogs have Parvo in the first place?

Obviously I have an issue with this topic. I have an even bigger issue with dog owners who don't accept the responsibility of being a pet owner. When you bring a pet home, it means you are responsible for this animal. Not getting the proper vaccinations to prevent things like this from happening is simply irresponsible. Call me rude and opinionated if you like, but step up to the plate with your pets people!

Veterinary medicine has come a long way in the past few years, but the Parvo vaccine has been available for a quarter of a century and Parvo is still the leading threat to puppies in this country. Only a minuscule amount of infected stool is all it takes for infection to occur in an unprotected puppy.

A newly infected dog excretes huge amounts of the Parvovirus in their stool. No environment is completely safe from the infection unless it is frequently disinfected with special Parvocide. Without this Parvocide, the Parvovirus is live for a month inside your home. Outside, without decontamination, this virus can live for from five to seven months. From a speck of feces not much larger than a pin head, you can carry the Parvovirus into your home on your shoe.

The introduction of many new cleaning products making all sorts of claims, parvovirus remains virtually impossible to completely remove from an environment. The goal of decontamination is to greatly decrease the amount of viral particles to a lesser amount. Your vet will be able to obtain the parvocide they use for their clinic, for you to use in your home.

If you are considering bringing home a puppy who is less than thirteen weeks of age, he is at his highest possible vulnerability. Any parasites, also widespread at this age, make your puppy even more vulnerable. Weaning a puppy at too young an age, shipping, and the introduction to a new area, can all make your puppy contract this virus more easily.

By the time your puppy reaches 6 to 8 weeks of age, he should start his Parvovirus vaccinations. For the first six to eight weeks the mother's milk, assuming she's been vaccinated, will protect the puppy.

My goal here is to squelch out the Parvovirus by spreading knowledge about the problem. If we are diligent about being responsible pet owners, we can solve the problem. Then, and only then can we avoid having such horrible diseases threatening our pets. We won't have a need for finding ways to treat Parvovirus, or any of the other infectious diseases.

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