Canine Parvovirus Symptoms & Treatment: Comprehensive G

Key Points for Canine Parvovirus Diagnosis

(1) Canine parvovirus is highly contagious across all ages of dogs, but puppies between 2 to 4 months old are most susceptible. This age group also experiences the highest incidence and mortality rates.

(2) In natural settings, the virus spreads widely, leading to outbreaks in areas with high concentrations of dogs. Transmission is rapid, with peak infection rates during spring and autumn. The virus is primarily transmitted through the digestive tract, and the incubation period is typically short, ranging from 5 to 7 days.

(3) The disease presents in two clinical syndromes: enteritis and myocarditis. Enteritis symptoms include fever, depression, sudden vomiting, diarrhea with tomato juicelike stools, foul odor, loss of appetite, weight loss, severe dehydration, and a significant decrease in white blood cells upon blood testing. Myocarditis symptoms include fever, sudden depression, difficulty breathing, and heart failure leading to death.

(4) Postmortem examination of affected dogs reveals dilation of the middle and posterior segments of the small intestine, with marked congestion of serosal blood vessels, hemorrhagic intestinal mucosa, watery, flocculent, or mucoid intestinal contents, and swollen, congested mesenteric lymph nodes.

(5) Laboratory diagnosis methods include electron microscopy, hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests, fluorescent antibody tests, immunoenzyme and immunoelectrophoresis, colloidal gold technology, and PCR.

(6) Canine parvovirus often coinfects with canine distemper virus, canine infectious hepatitis virus, or canine coronavirus. This should be considered during diagnosis. There is no specific treatment for the disease. Clinical management involves symptomatic and supportive care, including fluid replacement, antidiarrheal, antihemorrhagic, antiemetic measures, and strict dietary control to prevent secondary infections.

Treatment Measures

(1) Fluid replacement often involves the use of isotonic sodium chloride solution or 5% glucose saline. Antibiotics such as gentamicin sulfate, kanamycin sulfate, or erythromycin can be added to prevent secondary infections. Vitamins C, creatinine, and ATP can enhance efficacy, while bicarbonate or lactate solutions can correct acidosis.

(2) Antivomiting and antispasmodic agents commonly used include atropine sulfate (0.5 to 1 mg per dose, subcutaneous injection, twice daily) or chlorpromazine hydrochloride (4 mg per kilogram of body weight, intramuscular injection, once daily).

(3) Antidiarrheal agents include bismuth subnitrate (4 to 6 tablets per dose, three times daily) or Smecta (250 to 500 mg per kilogram of body weight, orally).

(4) Hemostatic agents include tranexamic acid (5 to 10 mg per dose, twice daily, intramuscular injection) or etamsylate (0.5 to 1 gram per dose, once daily, intravenous injection), along with vitamin K (10 mg per dose, twice daily, intramuscular injection).

(5) Specific treatments may include the use of canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody, antiviral drugs such as Shuanghuanglian Injection (1 mL per kilogram of body weight, once daily, intramuscular injection), and interferons. Improving the living conditions of the dogs, maintaining dry and appropriate temperatures, clearing feces promptly, disinfecting regularly, and providing ample water can aid in the recovery of the affected dogs.

Preventive Measures

(1) Isolate and observe sick and suspected dogs for treatment.

(2) Disinfect dog houses and equipment, and properly dispose of the feces and urine of affected dogs.

(3) Recovered dogs may carry the virus for a long time, so they should still be kept away from healthy dogs.

(4) Regularly vaccinate dogs with canine parvovirus inactivated or live vaccines. Adult dogs should be vaccinated once a year. Puppies should receive their first vaccination at 6 to 7 weeks of age, followed by boosters every 15 days for a total of three doses.