Parvovirus is a virus that targets rapidly growing cells.
For tiny puppies in utero, or with their eyes not yet open, that can mean heart muscle and other vital organs.
For most puppies from 5 weeks of age, this means the gastrointestinal tract.
The first sign is usually when a puppy doesn't want to eat their food.
Later in the course of the disease, vomiting and diarrhoea can follow hours or days later.
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Usually, signs develop 3 days to 3 weeks after exposure to the virus.
With intensive hospitalisation, most puppies can be saved, but at a considerable expense.
Dehydration and sepsis are the potentially fatal consequences of this infection.
Here are some common urban myths we've heard.
Myth One: My dog or puppy can't get parvovirus - they don't leave the house/yard/farm
The reality is that many homes, especially rentals, may already have parvovirus in the soil.
Secondly, it is uncommon that the HUMANS in the household don't leave the home.
Indeed, parvovirus has been isolated from the floors of supermarkets - meaning that if you do your shopping after a person with a sick puppy at home, you could walk the virus into your house with your shoes.
Similarly, flies can travel over fences and on the breeze, taking a fly from a sick dog's poo to your dog's dinner.
Myth Two: My dog had a vaccine as a puppy - they don't need any more vaccines
The perfect vaccine would indeed last a lifetime, but we don't live in a perfect world.
Repeat vaccines give the immune system a chance to be appropriately fine-tuned to deal with threats.
Puppies need to have repeated vaccines as puppies, until at least on or after 12weeks of age.
This is because the mother's milk interferes with how effective and long lasting the vaccine effectiveness lingers.
After puppyhood, adult dogs also need booster vaccinations, usually starting 12months after their final puppy vaccine.
Myth Three: My puppy seems a bit sick - a walk at the dog park will perk him up
While most dogs love going to the dog park, if your puppy has Parvovirus, or other contagious infections, like Ringworm, Canine Cough (previously known as Kennel Cough) or other causes of gastroenteritis, taking your pet to the park means spreading that disease there, and sharing other diseases from other dogs gone before you.
If your puppy is sick, the right place to go is the vet.
Call ahead so that infection risk can be managed.
Myth Five: Big dogs don't get parvovirus
This is just untrue. While a big dog may have more body reserves to fight infections, adult dogs and large breed dogs certainly get parvovirus.
The hospital bills that come with such illnesses are often related to the size of the patient in question.
At Parkes Vet, we would much rather vaccinate puppies and dogs rather than treat patients with parvovirus.
Please work with us to ensure that your pet is protected.
Vaccines remain the single most effective way to reduce risks and severity of this frightening disease.
If you have a litter of puppies or an adult dog who needs to be vaccinated, call us today to book in.
