What Is the Parvo Virus?

Effects

• Once parvo manifests itself in the stomach lining the dog cannot properly absorb liquids and nutrients, leading to weakness and lethargy.
  
  

Features

• Some of the first symptoms of parvo are vomiting, diarrhea and a general malaise that overtakes the animal. Loss of appetite and a terrible-smelling, bloody stool will follow, with severe cases causing dehydration and possible death.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Vaccinations are available for parvo, with the shots beginning at 6 weeks of age and continuing until the dog is 5 months old for them to be the most effective. The majority of veterinarians recommend an annual booster for parvo, according to Working Dogs.com.
  
  

Time Frame

• Parvo exists in the feces of infected dogs and can remain infectious for as long as five months. An exposed dog usually takes from a week to 10 days to show any signs of the parvo virus and to test positive.
  
  

Considerations

• A puppy that lives through its battle with parvo often is weak and sickly for the rest of its life. Some will suffer a form of congestive heart failure brought about by the ailment, sometimes years after the dog has apparently recovered from the illness.