Dogs - Viral Inflammation (Parvovirus)
What is the disease of viral gastroenteritis (Parvovirus)?
Parvovirus is a relatively new disease in 1978. Because of the severity of this disease and its rapid spread among dog groups, the virus has received public attention. The virus is very similar to dementia or measles, and the two diseases are almost identical. As a result of a mutation of the Cats virus, but this belief has not been proven.
How does a dog get the Parvovirus?
The main source of the virus is the infected dog's faeces. An infected dog may have a high concentration of the virus, and the animals will be infected by the virus. This virus carries the virus into the intestine, where it penetrates the intestinal wall causing the virus. Inflammation.
Unlike other viruses, the Parvovirus is stable in the environment and resists the effects of heat, antiseptics and alcohol. Parvovirus has been detected in dog feces until after three months at room temperature. Due to the persistence of this virus, Easily transmitted by contaminated hair or the foot of the infected dog, the contaminated shoe, clothes, and other things contaminated with the virus. There is no need for direct contact between the dogs for the spread of the virus. Usually infected dogs become sick during 7 to 10 days of The first infection.
How does the disease affect the dog? The clinical symptoms of this disease vary somewhat, but are always in the form of vomiting and severe diarrhea. Diarrhea may affect or may not contain blood. In addition to loss of appetite, inactivity, and fever, it is important to know that not all dogs show all symptoms, But vomiting and diarrhea are most common and vomiting usually begins first.
Parvovirus may affect dogs at any age but is more common in dogs less than a year old. Puppies are usually affected less than five months of age and are most difficult to treat.
How is it diagnosed?
The clinical symptoms of Parvovirus infection may be similar to other diseases that cause vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, the diagnosis of the Parvovirus is a challenge for the veterinarian. Positive confirmation of the diagnosis requires the detection of the virus in the stool or the discovery of antibodies to the parvovirus in the serum. Sometimes there is a dog infected with the parvovirus but the virus does not appear in the stool, and fortunately this is not familiar.
Preliminary diagnosis depends on the lack of leucopenia. If there is a need to confirm the diagnosis, a stool or blood sample may be taken by a veterinary laboratory to perform other tests. The lack of white blood cells does not necessarily mean that the dog is not Infected with parvovirus, and some dogs show clinical symptoms, and there is no need to have a lack of white blood cells.
Can it be successfully treated?
There is no treatment that kills the virus as long as it has infected the dog, but because this virus does not kill the dog directly but causes the loss of the membrane lining the intestines, resulting from this severe drought, imbalance of elements of sodium and potassium, the spread of infection in the circulation (septicemia) Bacteria that lived in the intestine into the bloodstream, the animal is at risk of dying.
The first step in treatment is the treatment of dryness and imbalance of electrical elements, and this requires the injection of solutions containing the electrical elements in the vein, given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent or treat blood infection, using anti-shrink and intestinal colic to stop diarrhea and vomiting that amplifies The problem, and sometimes the animal needs to transfer blood or plasma blood with antibodies to the Parvovirus.
What are the survival rates of this disease and survival?
Most dogs infected with Parvovirus are treated with intensive treatment. If the treatment is done, the spread of blood infection and the occurrence of dehydration occur. For reasons that are not fully understood, death rates in some species, especially the Rudolfler, are higher.
Prevention of the disease?
Yes, the best way to protect your dog from the inflammatory bowel disease (parvovirus) is to receive proper immunization. Small puppies receive immunization as part of the combined immunization against multiple diseases, and are given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Sometimes, veterinarians give immunization every two weeks and a booster dose at 18 to 20 years of age.
After the first series of immunizations, active doses should be taken at least once a year. Dogs in the most vulnerable cases (shelters, dog shows, experiments and so on) may be better immunized every six months. The female that gives birth should receive a booster dose within two weeks From birth to transmission of immune antibodies to small children, and the final decision on immunization should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Is there a way to kill the virus in the surrounding environment?
Due to the persistence of this virus in the external environment, it is important to cleanse all areas contaminated with the virus. The best method of disinfection is to use a solution of 250 ml chlorine on 4 liters of water. It is preferable to use chlorine as most lethal antiseptics do not eliminate the parvovirus .
Is the Parvovirus a threat to health, or to the health of cats?
It is important to note that to this time there is no evidence or evidence of the transmission of the Parvovirus to cats or humans.
