What is Canine Parvovirus? 

Canine parvovirus (CPV or commonly referred to as “parvo”) is one of the most serious

 viruses that dogs can get. Thankfully, it is very preventable with proper vaccination.

This virus was discovered in 1967 and has rapidly become a serious threat to canine health. 

This is primarily due to the fact that the virus is hard to kill, can live for a long time in the environment and is shed in large quantities by infected dogs.

The virus `is also highly contagious, which is why the parvo vaccine is considered a 

core vaccine for puppies and dogs.

While the highly effective parvovirus vaccine has decreased the risk to properly

 vaccinated dogs, this disease is unfortunately still widely prevalent, especially in

 puppies and adolescent dogs.

How Do Dogs Get Parvo? Is Parvo Airborne?

Parvovirus is an incredibly contagious disease that spreads quickly and efficiently. 

While canine parvovirus is not airborne, it can be found on many surfaces within

 the environment. It is spread by contact with contaminated feces, but you don’t 

have to see solid feces for the virus to be present. It can live on the ground or on 

surfaces in kennels, on people's hands or on the clothing of people that have been 

contaminated. Dogs could also carry it on their fur or paws if they have come into 

contact with contaminated fecal material.

Parvovirus can live outdoors for months, if not years, and is resistant to many 

disinfectants, although it is susceptible to diluted bleach and some specialized cleaners

 commonly used in veterinary hospitals.

Can Humans Get Parvo?

Parvovirus is species-specific, so humans have their own version of the virus. 

This means that humans cannot get parvovirus from dogs and dogs cannot get

 parvovirus from people.

However, it’s still important to use the utmost caution by wearing personal protective

 equipment if you come into contact with an infected dog. While you may not get parvo,

 the virus could be spread to another dog via your hands or the clothes you are wearing.

Can Cats Get Parvo from Dogs?

Cats also have a type of parvovirus that causes severe disease, known as

 feline panleukopenia (see Cat's Heath Page).

While dogs cannot get feline parvovirus from cats, cats can become infected with 

canine parvovirus. They most often have much more mild clinical signs than dogs do, 

but there is a strain of canine parvovirus that can cause severe illness in cats.

The feline parvovirus vaccine, which is part of the core FVRCP vaccine, may offer 

some cross-protection against canine parvovirus.

What Are the Signs of Parvo in Dogs?

A dog infected with canine parvovirus will start to show symptoms within three to 

seven days of infection.

An infected puppy will often show lethargy as the first sign, and they may not want

 to eat. They will also often have a fever.

As the virus progresses, your dog will begin to suffer from severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Severely sick puppies may collapse and have a high heart rate and hypothermia due 

to the degree of dehydration and infection.

How Is Parvovirus Diagnosed in Dogs? Are There Parvo Tests?

Fecal ELISA tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) are the most 

common way of diagnosing a dog with parvovirus in a clinical setting.

The test requires a fecal swab and takes about 10 minutes.

While this test is accurate, a negative result does not necessarily rule out 

parvovirus in a symptomatic dog, as they may not be shedding the viral antigen 

at the time of testing. Further testing may be needed in these cases.

What Are the Stages of Parvo?

The stages of canine parvovirus follow the stages of most viral infections.

1. Infection

The puppy (or adult dog) is exposed to viral particles via fecal material

 from an infected dog. These viral particles can come from a few places:

The environment, on the ground or on a surface, the mother dog, people/clothing/inanimate 

objects that came into contact with the feces of an infected dog

It is worth noting that only a very small amount of fecal material is necessary

 to cause infection, which enters through the mouth of the puppy or dog.

2. Incubation

There is an incubation period (between three and seven days) in which the 

dog is infected with parvovirus but not yet showing symptoms.

During this period, the virus specifically seeks out the most rapidly dividing cells

 in the body—typically, it starts attacking the tonsils or lymph nodes of the throat. 

By targeting these rapidly dividing cells, the virus is able to multiply effectively and efficiently

 and invade other parts of the dog’s system.

Once it has multiplied and entered the bloodstream, the virus will seek out other sources 

of rapidly diving cells. The most hard-hit areas are:

Bone marrow

Cells that line the walls of the small intestines

In small puppies, parvovirus can also infect the heart, which causes inflammation 

of the heart muscle, poor heart function, and arrythmias.

3. Illness

When the virus infects the bone marrow, it attacks the young immune cells, 

which leads a drop in protective white blood cells. This weakens the body’s ability to protect

 itself and allows the virus to more easily invade the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

This is where the worst damage happens. The virus attacks the lining of the 

small intestine, which prevents the dog’s GI tract from being able to:

Absorb nutrients

Prevent fluid loss into the stool

Prevent bacteria from moving into the gut

This leads to serious health issues, such as:

Diarrhea

Vomiting

Lethargy

Severe dehydration

Fever

Possibly sepsis

While parvo in dogs is not always fatal, those that do not survive typically die from

 dehydration or shock—along with the damage caused by the septic toxins from the 

intestinal bacteria escaping into the bloodstream.

4. Recovery

Recovery from parvovirus varies case by case. Full recovery may take quite a while 

depending on the severity of the disease and the damage it has done.

Dogs that can recover from infection are sick for five to 10 days after symptoms

 begin.It is very important that puppies with parvovirus receive adequate nutrition 

so that their intestines can heal.

Dogs recovering from a parvo infection should be fed a bland, easily digestible diet.

 Hill’s, Purina, and Royal Canin all make prescription veterinary diets that are 

carefully formulated to be nutritionally balanced and gentle on the GI tract.

How Long Does Parvo Last? What’s the Prognosis for a Dog With Parvo?

Hospital stays generally last around five to seven days, but this varies depending 

on the severity of symptoms.

The highest risk of death occurs around 24-72 hours after you see the 

symptoms of parvo in dogs. If a puppy is hospitalized, given lots of supportive care 

and monitored closely, the survival rate is around 75-80%. Survival is more difficult if

 the dog is not given veterinary attention quickly after showing clinical signs, or if the dog 

is not hospitalized with sufficient supportive care.

Are There Home Remedies for Parvo?

There are no home remedies for parvo.

In some cases, if a dog is not severely ill, or if expensive treatment is prohibitive, then 

treatment on an outpatient basis may be attempted with help from the vet.

Outpatient treatment for parvo in dogs includes:

Subcutaneous fluids (fluids given under the skin as a source of hydration)

A special highly digestible diet

Antiemetics to stop vomiting

Possibly antidiarrheals

While some dogs can recover from this protocol, it is much safer—and more likely to 

have better outcomes—if the dog is hospitalized.

What Is the Treatment for Parvo?

There is no cure for parvovirus, so the treatment revolves around supporting the 

puppy so their body can fight off the virus.

Supportive care for parvovirus generally includes:

Hospitalization with intravenous fluids

Antiemetics to stop vomiting

Focusing on nutrition, with a feeding tube, if necessary

Correction of any electrolyte imbalances or low blood glucose

Puppies exhibiting signs of sepsis—where the gut becomes so “leaky” from disease 

that bacteria from the intestines enter the bloodstream—require antibiotic therapy.

Puppies with a high fever or low white blood cell count may also receive antibiotics.

How Much Does Parvo Treatment Cost?

The cost of treatment can vary greatly based on the severity of illness, length of 

hospital stay, and location of the veterinary clinic.

Costs could start around several hundred dollars for outpatient treatment and up to several thousand dollars for a severe case with hospitalization.

On average, expect treatment to cost $1,000-1,500 minimum.

Needless to say, it is much more cost-effective to have your dog fully vaccinated 

than to have a dog with parvovirus.

How to Prevent Your Dog from Getting Parvo

The canine parvovirus vaccine is most often given in a combination vaccine 

that goes by a variety of acronyms: DHPP, DAPP, DA2PP, DHLPP, etc. This vaccine is

 considered a core vaccine and should be given every three to four weeks from 

6 weeks to at least 16 weeks of age.

The most important thing is making sure you get your puppy in on time for their 

vaccines. If too much time has passed between boosters, the vaccine series will 

need to be started over again to maintain protection.

Puppies should only socialize with fully vaccinated dogs until they are able 

to be fully vaccinated. Areas where vaccination status is not ensured, such as 

dog parks, should be avoided.

An exception is puppy classes at a reputable training centre, as all puppies are

 required to have at least their first vaccine against parvovirus, and training and 

socialization at an early age are extremely important.

A dog will need to receive a booster vaccine at one year of age to be considered fully vaccinated. Dogs should also continue to receive vaccines every one to three years for life.

Can a Vaccinated Dog Get Parvo?

While no vaccine can promise to be 100% effective, the canine parvovirus 

vaccine is very effective and provides excellent protection from the virus. It is very 

unlikely that an appropriately vaccinated dog would become ill with canine parvovirus.

It’s important to make sure that puppies get the appropriate number of boosters based

 on their age, and that they are then boostered after one year, and then every one to three

 years. If a vaccinated dog comes into contact with a dog that is sick and actively shedding parvovirus, it would not be unreasonable to booster the vaccine early.

Can a Dog Get Parvovirus Twice?

While not impossible, it is very unlikely that a dog that has recovered from canine 

parvovirus would get it again.

Immunity for parvovirus lasts for several years.

However, this does not mean that your dog does not need to be vaccinated against canine parvovirus if he or she has recovered from it in the past

. Routine vaccinations should still be performed.