Parvo is a potentially fatal disease in dogs but it isn’t always feasible to take your dog to the vet when they get it. If you’re more swayed to treating your dog for parvo at home, you can do so with the right tools and guidance.
What is Parvo?
Parvovirus, or parvo for short, is a very contagious viral infection in dogs. It’s usually spread through contact with infected feces. The condition is most dangerous in unvaccinated dogs and puppies and this has led many to think it only affects puppies; but any dog can get it. Some breeds appear to be more inclined to catch parvo, also.
The infection attacks rapidly dividing cells in the dogs present, such as the cells in the lining of the digestive tract or in developing white blood cells. Because it attacks these locations, it causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms are most often what is fatal in dogs, and not the infection itself. Instead, it’s the effect that the condition has on the body.
This can also include the release of septic toxins in the digestive tract that can essentially poison the dog. This is why effectively treating parvo quickly is crucial.
Signs and Symptoms
The most visible and common symptom, referred to as the hallmark pointing to parvo, is blood-stained feces. The smell is extremely powerful and unpleasant. Usually, simply smelling the stool is enough to know that something is wrong, but the addition of blood in the stool is significant.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Severe diarrhea
- Bloody feces
- Vomiting
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Fever or hypothermia (low body temperature)
- Dehydration
How to Guard Against Your Dog Getting Parvo
The most imperative thing you can do to protect your dog from parvovirus at any age is to get them the vaccine. The canine parvovirus vaccine should be administered between 14 and 16 weeks; although it can also be issued sooner than that, with shots given later to add to the protection.
For puppies too young for the vaccine, limiting their exposure to dogs who could have parvo is a good first step to protect them from parvo. This includes limiting their potential exposure to infected feces and contaminated objects. You can do this by using designated spaces for dogs to use the bathroom or by cleaning up feces shortly afterward. Ensuring food and water dishes are cleaned and sanitized, collars and leashes are clean, and hands are washed between interacting with sick and uninfected dogs can also help.
The Importance of Vaccination
Vaccinating your dog against parvo is recommended because the cost of treating your dog through parvo can be quite expensive. This is because you must consider medications and other treatments that your dog will need if they contract parvo. Also the amount of effort and worry that goes into treating a potentially life-threatening illness.
28% of vaccinated puppies will still get parvo, so it’s not a foolproof solution. Vaccinating your puppy may also help make the parvo infection less severe. Having ways to treat your puppy from parvo will help you mitigate the illness.
Susceptible Breeds
As mentioned before, some breeds are more likely to catch parvo than others. They might have a higher threat for contracting parvo, and some get sicker when they are infected. Dog owners with these breeds should take extra care in the prevention and treatment of parvo. These breeds can include:
- Rottweilers
- Doberman Pinschers
- Labrador Retrievers
- German Shepherds
- Bull Terrier breeds
- Alaskan Sled Dogs
How to Treat Parvo at Home
Taking your dog to the vet is recommended if you suspect they have parvo. Parvo is easy for vets to diagnose because they’ll analyze a sample of feces using a SNAP test to see if there are parvo antigens. Most vets can do this on the spot while taking blood samples to check on your dog’s hydration and immune cells.
However, taking your dog to the vet isn’t always an option for everyone. If you don’t have a vet available or affordable to help here are some tips for treating parvo at home.
Treat the Infection
Treating symptoms is crucial, but ultimately you must get rid of the infection causing the symptoms. The most common medication used for parvo is Tamiflu, which is administered for roughly five days after diagnosis is made. It helps eradicate the virus but can also be used preventatively for dogs who are not sick but may have been exposed to a sick dog.
A natural option is Parvaid. Parvaid’s a natural remedy made of peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, plantain, echinacea and other herbs. It can also be used preventatively.
Keep Them Hydrated
Dehydration is one of the primary causes of death in puppies with parvo, so keeping as much liquid in their bodies as possible is crucial. However, a danger with parvo is that they may be unable to keep fluids down, either vomiting them or losing them to diarrhea.
You can check your dog’s hydration level with the skin at the back of its neck. First, pinch the skin together and then release it. It should immediately bounce back. If the fold of skin takes 2 seconds or longer to bounce back and lay flat, your dog is dehydrated.
Give Them Rice Water
If your dog is not struggling with vomiting, they may be able to stomach drinking water. You can give them rice water to get some extra nutrition into their body and help settle their stomachs. To do this, use good quality white rice (not brown because it has too much fiber) and:
- Boil 1 cup of white rice and 4 cups of water for 10 to 30 minutes or until the water turns a creamy white.
- Strain out the rice (you can use it for other things)
- Allow the liquid to cool.
- Permit your dog to drink it as often as they want.
If your dog starts vomiting, stop giving it to them and call a vet to confirm everything is ok. Add a few teaspoons of dog-safe, low-sodium chicken broth powder if they’re uninterested in the rice water.
Have an IV Administered
If your dog is dehydrated getting fluids into them is crucial. If you’re nervous about syringes and needles you can always take your dog to the vet and ask them to administer IV fluids. They may also give medication while you’re there. You can have this done in a matter of a few hours and then continue to treat them at home.
Subcutaneous Fluids
Another option is offering subcutaneous fluids. Sub (meaning below) and cutaneous (meaning skin) refer to fluids injected under the skin, creating a pocket of fluid the body can easily absorb that doesn’t have to pass through the infected digestive tract.
You can get a subcutaneous fluids kit (also called a sub-Q kit) online or from your vet. You’ll use this along with saline or distilled water. In both cases, they’ll come with detailed instructions on how to use them. However, in general, you’ll:
- First, clean the injection site, and ensure the needle is sterile.
- Next, pinch the skin together and inject the saline water into the fold of the skin between your fingers.
- A bump will form. This is normal and what we want.
- Keep an eye on the bump. Once it’s disappeared, wait an hour, and re-inject subcutaneous fluids in another spot.
Get Control of Diarrhea
It’s crucial to treat the dehydration that comes from diarrhea and stop your dog from losing more fluids to more diarrhea. You can give your dog plenty of products, from the commercially available to the naturally sourced ones. These will help control diarrhea so your dog retains more water and can bounce back faster.