Key Precautions for Canine Parvovirus Treatment: Safe H

Parvovirus in dogs, when diagnosed accurately and treated promptly, can significantly reduce mortality rates. The early signs of the disease include loss of appetite, refusal to eat, vomiting of food, and the presence of yellowish or whitish foamy liquid. Treatment during this initial stage tends to be more effective. However, if a dog presents with diarrhea and bloody stools before seeking medical attention, the treatment's success rate is often lower. If a dog is already experiencing diarrhea and bloody stools upon arrival at the vet, with severe dehydration and signs of collapse, immediate intravenous fluid therapy and antiinfection treatments should be administered. During treatment, it's crucial for the dog to fast from food and water to prevent further burdening the gastrointestinal system. The dog should be kept in a quiet, warm, and dry environment to rest. During the recovery period, feed the dog a nutritious and easily digestible diet, with small, frequent meals.

Parvovirus can be effectively prevented through vaccination. Puppies can start receiving vaccinations around 45 days old, with each puppy receiving one dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, followed by three doses at threeweek intervals. It is essential to complete all three doses to establish reliable immunity. Dogs over one year old should also receive annual vaccinations, consisting of two doses given three weeks apart, with each dose being one unit.

Key points for clinical treatment:

1. Specific therapy: Early administration of canine parvovirus inhibitory protein can specifically bind to the virus in the blood, inhibit the invasion of host cells by the virus, and prevent viral replication. The dosage is 80,000 IU/kg body weight by intramuscular injection for the first two days, once daily, and then revert to the normal dose of 400,000 IU/kg body weight, injected once daily for 3 to 5 days.

2. Boosting the immune system: Use interferon to induce the production of antiviral proteins (AVP) through cell receptors, which can inhibit the replication of the virus within cells. This can complement the dog's other antiviral protective mechanisms and further activate the dog's cellular immune system, enhancing the viruskilling effect. The dosage for adult dogs is 12 vials per day (each containing 1 million IU), and for puppies, 0.51 vial per day, for 3 to 5 days.

3. Controlling secondary infections: A variety of antibiotics can be used, such as sodium penicillin, ampicillin (1520 mg/kg), gentamicin, and norfloxacin, as long as the white blood cell count is not elevated. However, avoid longterm use to prevent disruption of the normal gut flora and delay the recovery of gastrointestinal function.

4. Pay attention to hydration and feeding: During periods of vomiting and diarrhea, the dog should be fasting from both food and water. Once vomiting stops and diarrhea subsides, provide necessary nutrition and hydration within 2448 hours. For dogs with gastrointestinal issues, adjust the gut flora and feed lowfiber, easily digestible, lowfat food, or use a specific gastrointestinal formula after recovery.

5. Symptomatic treatment:

(I) Hemostasis and antiemetics: Use 0.2 to 2 mg of tranexamic acid per dog and 2 mg/kg body weight of metoclopramide.

(II) Hydration: Calculate the required fluid volume based on the amount of fluid lost, the daily physiological needs, and the daily losses. The amount of fluid lost is calculated as a percentage of body weight, with severe dehydration in puppies at 1015% and in adult dogs at 8%; moderate dehydration in puppies at 510% and in adult dogs at 48%; and mild dehydration in puppies at 25% and in adult dogs at 2%. The daily physiological need for adult dogs is 3040 ml/kg/day, for puppies 8090 ml/kg/day, and for puppies under 2 months old, 100150 ml/kg/day. The amount of fluid lost daily can be calculated based on the frequency of vomiting and diarrhea. The infusion rate is 8 drops/min for dogs under 2 kg, 15 drops/min for 24 kg, 30 drops/min for 48 kg, and 4050 drops/min for 815 kg. Dogs with poor heart function or irregular heart rate should not receive too much or too fast an infusion to prevent acute heart failure.

(III) Correcting electrolyte balance: Since potassium is mostly excreted through urine, its balance follows the rule of "more intake, more excretion; less intake, less excretion; no intake, still excretion." Due to the dog's lack of intake for several days and the loss of potassium through vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms of potassium deficiency may occur, such as lethargy, muscle weakness, pain, reluctance to move, or paralysis. Therefore, any dog fasting for more than 3 days should receive potassium supplementation.

(IV) Correcting acidbase balance: In the late stages of the disease, due to the dog's prolonged lack of food intake and the significant loss of digestive juices and body fluids, most dogs will experience acidbase imbalance and acidosis. Metabolic acidosis can cause an excess of hydrogen ions in the extracellular fluid to enter cells, mainly affecting red blood cells. This can lead to a decrease in plasma pH, a decrease in the activity of oxidative enzymes in nerve cells, and a disruption in the oxidative phosphorylation process, resulting in insufficient ATP production and reduced energy supply to the brain tissue. Additionally, when plasma pH decreases, the activity of gammaaminobutyric acid decarboxylase in the brain increases, leading to an increase in gammaaminobutyric acid, which can inhibit the central nervous system.

Due to insufficient brain energy and the increase in inhibitory amino acids, dogs may exhibit depression, dullness, and even coma, with increased breathing rate and a fruity odor in exhaled air (similar to the smell of rotten apples). The urine may test acidic, and the dog may experience tetany, stand still, and fall into a coma. The remedy is to administer 5% sodium bicarbonate intravenously at a dose of 5 ml/kg. Since it is a hypertonic solution, it must be diluted to an isotonic solution before intravenous administration. The dilution method is to add twice the amount of 5% glucose or 10% glucose solution to the 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, creating a solution that is nearly isotonic. Adding an appropriate amount of sodium bicarbonate during the late stages of the disease can be very beneficial for the dog's recovery and the restoration of appetite.

(V) For dogs with weakened constitutions, intravenous amino acid injections can be administered. A dosage of 100 ml of 18amino acids is recommended.

(VI) For dogs with significant blood loss, indirect blood transfusions can be effective. The initial transfusion should be 2023 ml/kg.

(VII) After blood transfusions using anticoagulated citrate, calcium supplements should be administered immediately at a dose of 12 mg/kg. Calcium should not be mixed with sodium bicarbonate during intravenous administration to prevent the formation of calcium carbonate precipitates.

(VIII) For dogs with hemorrhagic enteritis and leukopenia caused by parvovirus, the use of granulocyte colonystimulating factor can increase white blood cell counts and has a significant therapeutic effect.

(IX) Anticholinergic therapy: Use 6542 injection in combination with MG3 infusion for slow intravenous drip.

(X) If there is a parasitic infection, appropriate treatment measures should be taken.