A puppy has appeared in your home. Of course, this is a joyful event, but you must remember that this is also a huge responsibility. First of all, you must monitor the health of your pet and try to protect it from the most serious diseases, in particular from parvovirus enteritis. Today we will tell you in detail about this ailment, which until recently denoted an almost death sentence. Now the situation has changed, modern vaccines are quite reliable protection against this formidable disease, and veterinary drugs can cure it at almost any stage.
The most important thing is not to allow the animal’s body to be very dehydrated, because otherwise the chances of recovery will drop sharply. So the faster you deliver your pet to the clinic, the easier it will be to treat parvovirus enteritis.
What is it
Indeed, it’s better to start from the very beginning. Therefore, let's start by identifying parvovirus enteritis. This is an acute viral disease that causes inflammation and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, as well as damage to the heart muscle. Most often, young individuals aged 2 months to two years are susceptible to this disease. In this case, a person can not get sick. Outbreaks of this virus are most common in spring and autumn.
Causes and development of the disease
Even without being a veterinarian, you can easily distinguish the signs of parvovirus enteritis. In the vast majority of cases, the disease affects a dog under the age of 6 months. The causative agent is a virus. When the DNA containing the virus enters the body, it begins to multiply actively in the intestinal epithelial cells. This leads to their mass death. The animal’s immunity is completely blocked, and the products of necrosis begin to be absorbed into the blood. In response to this, the body tries to defend itself and turns on the blood coagulation mechanism. This leads to microthrombi and blood circulation in vital organs is disturbed. These are the kidneys and liver, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. After coagulation mechanisms are exhausted, bleeding of the intestinal mucosa is observed.
But all this is not the worst. Parvovirus enteritis in puppies proceeds with a complete rejection of water. Usually, signs of hypovolemic shock develop on day 2-3, acute renal failure develops. In turn, damage to the heart muscle very quickly leads to pulmonary edema and heart failure. So, in a matter of days, the disease destroys all organs and systems and kills the animal.
Sources of disease
Treatment of parvovirus enteritis will be effective only when we know exactly where the trouble is coming from and how to avoid it as efficiently as possible. So, sick dogs are the source of infection. These are virus carriers that secrete a huge amount of virus into the environment. These are feces, urine and saliva. Rodents, insects and even people who do not get sick themselves are carriers. Infection can occur through infected feed and water, through contact with a sick animal (sniffing and licking itself, or objects infected with it). It is possible infection through the litter or care items, it is especially necessary to consider that the pathogen is very tenacious and remains in the external environment for a long time. It is resistant to heat and the effects of ether and chlorine, alcohol and soda. Therefore, taking puppies for vaccination to a veterinary clinic is not the best option. Usually, the tables are disinfected with alcohol, and this does not have any effect on the pathogen. As you can see, there are a lot of dangers around, and you need to learn to anticipate all of them in order to prevent this formidable disease.
Prevention or risk zone
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to treat, but this is especially true for such a formidable ailment as parvovirus enteritis. Prevention, first of all, is aimed at increasing the resistance of the pet’s organism itself, that is, resistance to bacteria and viruses. If this natural barrier is strong, then you can not be afraid. In order to increase resistance, you need to take good care of your pet. Good conditions and high-quality feeding, timely prevention of helminthic infestations, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and avoiding stressful situations are half the battle in protecting your pet from enteritis. Why half, because the second is for preventive vaccinations. In the modern world, it is unreasonable to reject the achievements of science in the form of reliable vaccines and hope for chance. Be sure to follow all routine vaccinations that your veterinarian will prescribe .
Signs you need to pay attention to right away
Today we are talking about parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms, treatment and prevention are the information that the owners need in order to respond to alarming changes in time. First of all, remember that the disease is developing rapidly. From the very first symptom to the death of the animal, only 3-4 days can pass. The maximum how long an animal can stretch without treatment is 7 days. Vomiting first appears. It is impossible to stop it by forcing the pet to drink or eat, you will only make it worse. It is necessary to remove intoxication by intravenous infusion of special solutions.
Sometimes, in the first stage, diarrhea appears gray-yellow. The puppy completely refuses water and food. In this case, the condition worsens very quickly. Even if the first symptoms appeared in the evening, you must try to take the animal to the veterinarian. Before morning, excruciating vomiting can bring the condition to critical. As a last resort, call the nearest veterinary station and tell them what is happening. Every doctor knows how serious the disease is parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms, treatment today - by collecting all this information, the doctor will be able to guide you in how to help your four-legged friend.
The situation is getting worse
So, if treatment has not been started, or is unsuccessful, vomiting will continue. The stool becomes stinking. Very often blood appears in feces, sometimes worms come out. Thick saliva accumulates in the mouth; the animal does not have the strength to swallow it. Eyeballs sink, noises are heard in the heart, and wheezing in the lungs. At the same time, severe tachycardia is a very bad symptom, which means that the cardiovascular system is affected too much, and the forecasts are disappointing. If the body temperature was initially elevated, now it drops to 35 degrees and below. The abdomen is usually tense and painful. Shortness of breath develops. The mucous membranes lose their luster, become gray or reddish. Even with the right, intensive, but too late therapy, mortality is very high, so it is extremely important to organize treatment as quickly as possible.
Clinical signs
The worst thing is when parvovirus enteritis develops in puppies. How to treat a young and fragile body when the virus destroys the heart and liver, kidneys and immune system. It is enough to delay the start of intensive care for only a few hours, and even if you recover, the dog will remain a regular client of the veterinarian for life, since a huge number of chronic diseases will grow out of this. The incubation period is only 4-10 days, while the dog begins to isolate the virus into the environment on the third day, when symptoms may be completely absent. These secretions pass on day 15-20, subject to survival. This ailment manifests itself in three forms, each of which can proceed lightning fast or acutely. If in the second case it is quite possible to save the pet, then in the first you may not even have time to consult a doctor.
Intestinal form of the disease
It is the manifestations of this form that parvovirus enteritis is most famous for. Prevention is to maintain the intestines of the dog in perfect condition, then the immunity will be strong, and it is much more difficult for the virus to break through its defense. First of all, it is a high-quality, balanced diet and timely anthelmintic therapy. At the same time, the acute form proceeds practically without signs of enteritis, the puppy shows a breakdown and dies within a few hours. Mortality is very high, it is about 60%.
In this case, anorexia is observed, a complete rejection of food. Very strong, mucous vomiting develops. 6 hours after its onset, the dog develops diarrhea. In this case, the feces are gray at first, and then acquire green or purple hues. Very often they contain streaks of blood, sometimes they are mucous or watery, almost always with a fetid odor. Body temperature at this stage is most often elevated. At the same time, vomiting and diarrhea deplete very quickly, after which a shock condition occurs. This is most often the case of parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms can only be one day ahead of the onset of death if you fail to stop the loss of fluid.
Treatment of enteric enteritis
First of all, it is necessary to provide the animal with complete rest, because it will take strength to overcome parvovirus enteritis. How to treat, it is necessary to coordinate with the veterinarian. Eating and drinking is completely canceled until the doctor permits it, forced infusion will only aggravate the situation. It is highly recommended to use vaseline oil, which envelops the walls of the stomach and intestines and interferes with the absorption of necrosis products.
In order to provide first aid, in your first-aid kit should be "Levomycetin succinate." This is an antibiotic that aims to treat diarrhea. You will also need No-Shpa and Analgin to relieve pain symptoms. In addition, No-Shpa relieves spasms, which means that vomiting is reduced. "Analgin" together with "Diphenhydramine" (two ampoules are collected in one syringe and injected intramuscularly) perfectly reduces the temperature. In severe and prolonged course of the disease, it is necessary to have saline and glucose at home, which can be administered at least subcutaneously, in order to avoid dehydration.
Cardiac Enteritis
It is much less common, most often as a secondary complication. After the enteritis, after some time, acute myocardial damage is observed. That is, we can diagnose heart failure with a weak pulse and pulmonary edema. Most often, animals die suddenly due to disturbances in the heart muscle of nerve patency. Mortality is very high, reaching 80%. It is very important to include Sulfocamphocaine, Cordiamin, or other drugs to maintain cardiac activity in the treatment regimen. Finally, there is a mixed form when various lesions of the cardiovascular and digestive, respiratory system of the body are observed. This is characteristic of weakened animals with a weakened immune system. In this case, the clinical picture may be blurry, and the symptoms are very diverse.
Dog treatment
The sooner you go to the doctor, the more chances to defeat parvovirus enteritis. Symptoms will increase rapidly, so put off all things and soon to a specialist. It should be noted that the treatment of this disease is becoming more difficult. The virus mutates and adapts, and doctors invent new schemes. The treatment is symptomatic, so for each patient the veterinarian will offer his own scheme. Most often, it includes sulfonamides, antibiotics, novocaine blockade, cardiac drugs, as well as saline and glucose. However, due to the growing number of drugs manufactured specifically for animals, it does not become easier to defeat parvovirus enteritis in puppies. How to treat this or that animal, sometimes it is necessary to decide along the way, observing the reaction of the body.
The classical treatment regimen necessarily includes polyvalent serum, that is, globulins against enteritis. In fact, this is a fraction of the blood serum of an animal that was vaccinated with a special vaccine, in response to which the body developed antibodies. It is they who help the sick animal overcome the disease. In addition to globulins, saline and antibiotics (Ampicillin and Oxycillin) are required. It is equally important to block vomiting, for this use "Tserukal". Each doctor must prescribe Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that is an excellent antispasmodic and analgesic. Additionally, "sulfocamphocaine" is used to stimulate cardiac activity and vitamins.
Parvovirus enteritis in cats
Clinical symptoms are very similar to those we have already listed. This vomiting and diarrhea, depression, fever and fever. However, high mortality is only with an over-acute course of the disease, which is not so common. The acute course of the disease is characterized by anorexia, damage to the intestinal mucosa and rapid growth of bacteria. The probability of death is from 25 to 90%. Subacute and subclinical forms are much more common, but cats recover even without external intervention. There is no specific treatment, the doctor can prescribe only supportive therapy.
From dog to person or vice versa
In fact, you should not be afraid of this disease. Parvovirus enteritis does not occur in humans, and therefore, absolutely calmly take care of your sick pet. But you yourself can become a source of danger for your pet. The virus can come home with your clothes and shoes, toys, various things from the veterinary clinic. Keep in mind that a variety of animals are brought there, and just by going for vitamins or anthelmintic drugs, you can bring dangerous pathogens with your domra. Their durability is truly incredible. Neither cold nor boiling water takes them; chlorine and alcohol are powerless. In the earth and biological waste, it is stored for several years.
The fact that parvovirus enteritis in dogs is transmitted to humans is a fairy tale, but treatment should be taken very seriously. If your pet has not survived, do not rush to replace it with another. The causative agents of the virus can persist in the most secluded corners of the booth or litter, on hedges that young animals like to bite, and simply on the ground. Therefore, if you live in a private house, it will not work to disinfect everything. Therefore, it is necessary to wait two or three years, and then buy a new dog, be sure from a vaccinated bitch.