Veterinary Technician Advice: Diseases your Puppy or Dog
may get if not Vaccinated - 4
By Kami R. Guy, CVT
In the last three articles I have written about the diseases a puppy or dog is
vaccinated for in the DA2PLPC vaccination, or better know as the 8-in-one
vaccination. Today I will finish this series with the last two diseases, Canine
Parvovirus and Canine Corona Virus.
Canine Parvovirus was non-existent before 1978. Some believe it is a mutated
form of Feline Panleukopenia. This disease is a highly contagious and
potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease in dogs and extremely hard to kill.
It can live outside the dog for up to six months and withstand hard winter
snows. The only known disinfecting agent that kills this virus is Sodium
Hypochlorite (AKA: Bleach).
This virus is transmitted by oral ingestion of viral contaminated feces and can
also be transmitted by the hair or feet of contaminated dogs and by objects
such as food containers, water bowls and cages. This virus can also be
transmitted on the shoes of people who come in contact with the dog. Canine
Parvovirus has been found at dog shows, obedience trials, kennels, pet shops,
animal shelters, parks, playgrounds and anywhere large groups of dogs can be
found. Dogs that spend all of their time in a house or yard with no contact
with other dogs are less likely to become infected with this disease.
There are two forms of Canine Parvovirus that have been identified: the
diarrhea syndrome and the cardiac syndrome. The cardiac syndrome, also called
myocarditis, is rare today but sometimes it does affect neonatal puppies from
the utero up to three months of age. The only signs of this disease are cardiac
failure, arrhythmia or sudden death. It is hard to diagnosis and sometimes can
only be found by necropsy of the corpus.
The diarrhea or enteric form can affect dogs of any age but is most common in
young puppies from 2-6 months of age when maternal antibodies are low. This is
why starting vaccinations at 6 weeks helps to eliminate this disease. Although
this disease affects all breeds, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and black
Labrador Retrievers are more prone to the disease. Some early signs that the
owner may observe in their dog may include, but is not limited to extreme pain,
loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, high fever and extreme diarrhea.
Clinical signs of the disease are vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, dehydration,
low white blood cell counts and secondary bacterial infections. The feces of
the infected canine is usually either grayish or fluid and bloody. The
veterinarian can make a diagnosis of this disease by clinical signs and/or by a
diagnostic test. A sample can also be sent to commercial labs for the virus to
be detected under an electron microscope. The vomiting and diarrhea occur
because the virus attacks the lining of the small intestines stripping away the
barriers and bacterial flora that help digest the food, this causes the
intestines to become ulcerated, leaving the intestines open to a secondary
infection.
There is no primary treatment of this disease but it can be treated
systematically and can include newly available Immunotherapy. Since dehydration
is the biggest concern of a Parvovirus patient, intravenous fluids are given.
Also food is withheld and anti-emetic drugs are given until vomiting and
diarrhea ceases. Because of the possibility of a secondary infection, many
veterinarians give antibiotics to help combat this. Depending on the white
blood cell count, and amount of blood lost during diarrhea and vomiting, it is
sometimes feasible to give a blood transfusion. Recently antitoxins and
antiparvo serum have been given and are showing good results.
With good supportive care and hospitalization most dogs will survive a severe
case of Canine Parvovirus. Since this disease is so severe, vaccinations are
recommended starting at 6 weeks and given every three or four weeks until the
puppy is 16-26 weeks old, depending on the veterinarians protocol. Vaccinations
are also recommended yearly for the lifetime of the dog.
The last disease in the DA2PLPC series is Canine Corona Virus. Canine Corona
Virus is the second most common viral infection causing vomiting and diarrhea,
first of which being Canine Parvovirus. This virus causes moderate to severe
vomiting and diarrhea and can lead to dehydration. The symptoms of this disease
include but are not limited to loss of appetite, depression, blood in stool,
vomiting, and death. This disease may mimic poisoning in some cases because of
the rapid onset and must be confirmed by a veterinarian. Laboratory test and
x-rays may be used to help distinguish this disease from other gastrointestinal
diseases along with a test for Canine Parvovirus.
As with Canine Parvovirus, Canine Corona Virus is also treated systematically
and hospitalization is often needed. Intravenous fluids are given to reverse
dehydration, antibiotics are sometimes given to combat secondary infections and
anti-emetics to help reduce vomiting and diarrhea. Prevention as with most
diseases is vaccination.