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Canine parvovirus is an extremely contagious and potentially deadly disease generally affecting the gastrointestinal tract of young dogs.

Canine parvovirus is transmitted directly (eating infected stool) and/or indirectly (an inanimate object contaminated with infected feces coming into contact with the nose or mouth) to susceptible animals. The susceptibility of the dog depends on their immune status and how much virus they are exposed to.

Once a susceptible dog is exposed to the virus and becomes infected, clinical signs will usually begin 3-7 days later. The hallmark symptoms are severe vomiting and diarrhea (which often has a strong smell and may contain blood), but can also include lethargy, depression, lack of appetite, and fever. It is critical to have the dog examined by a veterinarian at the onset of any symptoms.

If infection is suspected, therapy revolves around supportive care and managing clinical signs as there is no treatment to kill the virus. While different for every patient, treatment plans usually include hospitalization with intravenous fluid therapy. Additional recommendations may include nutritional supplementation, antibiotics, medications for nausea/diarrhea/pain control, and even blood transfusions. Most patients respond to medical therapy and recover appropriately if aggressive therapy is implemented promptly. These animals then retain lifelong immunity against the specific strain of parvovirus they were infected with.