Parvo Virus - 13 Must-Read Facts
Saturday, September 13th, 2008-
80% of dogs that are infected by Canine Parvovirus that are untreated die in four to five days - with the older 2a and 2b strains of the virus.
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Fully-vaccinated dogs, including both puppies and adults, are being infected by and dying from the most recent 2c strain of the Parvovirus.
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For reasons nobody yet understands, some breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Black & Tan Coonhounds, Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds are more prone to the Parvovirus.
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The four worst states for Canine Parvovirus outbreaks are California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, although every state in the US, including Hawaii and even Alaska, and especially the southern states, are being affected.
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The Parvo virus is incredibly hardy, can live in the ground for up to 20 years and can survive extremes of temperature, including frost and desert climates.
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If you take your dogs to the vet’s for treatment, your bill may be anywhere from $500 to over $6,000 per dog.
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You can only expect a 50% - 80% chance of survival if you take your dog to the vet.
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It is now believed that the latest 2c strain may be airborne, even though Parvo has historically been transmitted through contact with infected vomit and feces.
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It has always been suspected that Canine Parvovirus evolved from a similar feline virus, feline distemper, so it is ironic that cats can now be infected by the latest 2c strain of Canine Parvovirus.
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Dogs that are infected by the latest 2c strain of Canine Parvo can die within one day of symptoms first appearing, with some dogs dying in only six hours.
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The Parvo virus can incubate for anywhere from three days to 15 days, although five to seven days is most common. This means that your dog could be sick for up to two weeks and you would not even know it, as there would be no visible symptoms. However during this time, the virus is growing in strength, ready to wreak havoc on your dog’s body.
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Ironically, administering a Parvo virus vaccine, especially the very first shot, can actually increase the chance of your puppy contracting this virus. This is because the maternal antibodies inherited by the puppy can kill off the modified live virus contained in the vaccine, but as shots work in part by lowering the body’s natural immune system, this actually opens up the puppy to infection by the full, live virus (not to mention other infections as well).
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A few breeds of dogs, notably Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, appear to be at a reduced risk of contracting Canine Parvo, although this does not mean that they will not be infected.
If you’re looking for products you can use for home Parvo treatment, or for Parvo prevention, then you should check out our Value Packs, which contain Parvaid, Vibactra Plus, Life Cell Immune Support and, in the Gold Value Pack, Doggie Pain Relief.