Canine parvo is caused by a virus that is disseminated into the environment through the feces, urine, saliva and vomit of infected animals even after clinical recovery from the disease. The infection is contracted orally and then following ingestion or simple contact of the mucous membranes with material contaminated by the virus.
Once it has penetrated the mucosa, the virus will replicate in the nearby lymph nodes and subsequently, through the blood circulation, it will localize itself in the intestinal mucosa and in the myocardium (heart). The presence of the virus in these districts determines the characteristic symptomatology of this disease which affects in a severe and often fatal form mainly puppies aged between 6 and 14 weeks of life. The enteric form appears after an incubation period of about a week and the first symptoms are vomiting, fever, depression, diarrhea with liquid and blood-streaked stools. The animal stops eating and drinking resulting in a rapid loss of energy and dehydration. The myocardial form, on the other hand, has a longer incubation period and is more lethal and presents with vomiting, breathing difficulties and tachycardia. Often parvovirus gastro-enteritis is confused with other gastro-enteric syndromes undoubtedly less serious but in any case not to be underestimated especially in puppies therefore, at the onset of the first symptoms, it will be necessary to contact the veterinarian who will make a diagnosis both on the basis of the symptoms. than carrying out the Parvo-test.
Due to the absence of specific therapy, the treatments that will be provided will be aimed at supporting the animal, avoiding dehydration and counteracting the damage caused by enteritis and myocarditis. Therefore, as for other viral diseases, the only valid system to combat the disease is prevention and in this specific case vaccination which can be carried out around 8 weeks of life at the discretion of the Veterinarian who, before carrying out the vaccination , will have to verify that the puppy or adult animal is in a suitable state of health before administering the vaccine. In any case, it is good that the puppy, in the first weeks of life and before being covered by vaccination immunity, does not come into contact with other potentially infected dogs. Furthermore, it is good that the baby correctly takes both colostrum and mother's milk, the only means of defense until weaning. Parvovirus myocarditis is, to date, less frequent than gastroenteritis thanks to the practice of vaccination which involves the transmission through colostrum of passive immunity from mother to puppy at the time of birth.