Parvo Virus - 13 Little-Known Factoids
Rae and Mark July 8th, 2008
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80% of dogs that are infected by the older 2a and 2b strains of Canine Parvo virus that are untreated die in four or five days.
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With the current 2c strain, even fully-vaccinated dogs, including both puppies and adults, are being infected by and dying from the Parvo virus.
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For reasons nobody yet understands, some breeds, such as Rottweilers, Black & Tan Coonhounds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Pit Bulls are more prone to the Parvo virus.
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The four worst states for Parvovirus outbreaks are California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, although every state in the US, including Hawaii and even Alaska, and particularly the southern states, are being affected.
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The Canine Parvovirus is incredibly persistent and can live in the ground for up to twenty years, with an ability to survive extremes of temperature, including frost and hot weather.
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Vet costs to treat the Parvo virus are very expensive - you could easily pay $500 to over $6,000 per dog.
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Most vets can only offer your dog a 50% - 80% chance of a full recovery, in spite of their costly treatments.
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Although Canine Parvo has historically been transmitted through contact with infected feces and vomit, it is now suspected that the latest 2c strain may be airborne.
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It has always been suspected that Canine Parvovirus evolved from a similar feline virus, feline panleukopenia (aka feline distemper), so it is ironic that cats can now be infected by the latest 2c strain of Parvovirus.
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Dogs that are infected by the latest 2c strain of the Canine Parvo virus can die within one day of symptoms first appearing, with some dogs dying within just six hours.
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The Canine Parvovirus incubates, on average, for five to seven days, although it can be as few as three and as many as 15. 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 cause massive damage to your dog’s body.
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Ironically, administering a Parvo 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 too).
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A few breeds of dogs, particularly Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, appear to be at a reduced risk of contracting the Canine Parvo virus, 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.
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