PUPPY AILMENTS (continued): CANINE PARVOVIRUS (CPV)

Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease affecting mostly unvaccinated puppies (from 6 weeks of age) and unvaccinated adult dogs (and other wild canine species).
There is a similar condition affecting cats — which has many names, the most common of which is Feline Parvovirus (FPV) — which can be found in older texts. Please note that this virus is closely related to, but is yet quite different from, the CPV affecting puppies and young adult dogs. We will deal specifically with this cat ailment after the discussion on CPV has been concluded.

Risk and predisposing
factors associated with the
infection and spread of CPV
Research and empirical observations carried out in Europe, North America and elsewhere tend to show that this CPV disease often occurs:-
(i) During warm weather.
(ii) In unvaccinated puppies (and even in unvaccinated adult dogs).
(iii) In puppies (and adult dogs) with high levels of worm infestation.
(iv) Via exposure to other puppies, young and adult dogs which may be carrying the virus – especially in overcrowded conditions, e.g. in shelter environments.
What we are really emphasizing is that the transmission of the virus is mostly dog-to-dog. Even the sniffing of an infected dog’s anus can facilitate transmission of the virus from one dog to another.
Further, certain breeds seem to be more disposed to contracting this CPV disease. For example: Labradors, the Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and American Pit Bull Terriers seem to be more vulnerable than other breeds.
Please do not be fooled into thinking that our own creole/ “common” breeds are not often affected, or that they have some in-built, genetically-anchored resistance. When the CPV wave is on the rampage, many dogs succumb. In the latter part of last year (2023), veterinarians in Guyana were confronted with an abnormal quantity of puppies exhibiting symptoms of CPV.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ASSOCIATED WITH CPV

Question: What are the symptoms of CPV?
Answer 1: Since this virus primarily attacks certain structures of the intestinal (gut) wall, an initially soft watery diarrhoea develops, and soon becomes a bloody discharge from the anus.
2: As a result of the loss of fluids (due to diarrhoea), the animal quickly becomes dehydrated, and loses essential elements needed for growth and general wellbeing.
3: Since the intestinal wall is weakened by the onslaught of the virus, bacteria (germs) secondarily invade the gut, causing further infection, septicemia, and the deterioration of the health of the puppy (or adult), and creating a condition of shock just prior to death.
4: Vomiting
5: Loss of appetite
6: Listlessness
7: Fever (especially in the first few days, at the beginning of the ailment).
8: Abdominal pain upon palpation
Question: Can humans get CPV from their infected dogs?
Answer: No. Also, a dog/cat cannot be infected by a type of Parvovirus (B19) carried by humans.
Question: Can the pet ailing with CPV be treated?
Answer: This is one canine disease for which the caregiver needs to have veterinary involvement as early as possible. Please note that the symptoms listed above could exhibit themselves as early as 3 days after the animal has been infected.
Question: What is the treatment regime?
Answer: The treatment has to focus on alleviating or removing the symptoms. The vet would prescribe/ administer medications to counter the vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, bleeding, dehydration and listlessness, etc.
It may be better for the caregiver to leave the sick puppy/young adult dog in the vet’s hospital facilities, if such exist. Where these do not exist, the vet would explain to the caregiver what he/she can administer at home, and how often the ailing animal needs to return to the clinic for treatment.
The pet owner/caregiver must recognise that not only is this viral infection lethal, but the symptoms (once they appear) are devastating.
Vomiting and diarrhoea lead to serious dehydration. The owner might find great difficulty in rehydrating an ailing pup which regurgitates even water, and surely food.
The ensuing “oral liquid intake/vomit” cycle is something even the vet would have difficulty controlling, especially if he/she is seeing the sick animal only once or twice daily.
I should mention that when CPV entered Guyana in full force, I kept a few blood donor dogs in the clinic so that I could use their blood in transfusion exercises; and this was done with some success. However, some religious doctrines and the costs associated with the regime presented difficulties which became insurmountable.
Actually, the best (only?) way to counter dehydration, while offering energy supplements and treating secondary infections, is to place the animal on an intravenous drip for extended periods.
Next week we will deal with even more salient questions and answers relating to this CPV killer disease.