Canine Parvovirus: Understanding the Disease

Symptoms:

Enteritis Type: This condition commonly affects puppies between the ages of 2 to 6 months and has an incubation period of 4 to 14 days. Most cases are sudden, often triggered by factors like bathing or overeating. Initial symptoms include high fever, loss of appetite, depression, and vomiting. Initially, the vomit consists mainly of food, but later transitions to mucous and yellowgreen fluids. Within a day of onset, diarrhea usually begins, followed by frequent vomiting and severe diarrhea.

Myocarditis Type: This type is more prevalent in puppies around 40 days old. The disease often presents without early symptoms, leading to a sudden onset of difficulty breathing and weak heart. Some dogs may exhibit mild diarrhea or vomiting, followed by sudden weakness, difficulty breathing, and whining. Others may show signs of cyanosis, unsteady gait, extreme depression, decreased appetite, and even loss of appetite. Body temperature may remain normal or rise slightly, and dogs often die within a few hours.

Treatment Principles:

The primary focus is on protecting the gastrointestinal tract, strengthening the heart, replenishing fluids, restoring cardiovascular function, preventing complications, and enhancing the body's resistance to disease. During the isolation and treatment period, it is crucial to provide thorough care for the affected animals.

1. In the early stages, canine parvovirus hyperimmune serum can be administered intramuscularly at a dosage of 1 to 2 ml/kg, once daily for 2 to 3 days. This treatment has shown good recovery results.

2. During treatment, it is essential to strengthen the heart and replenish fluids. In the early stages, if there is no vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea, dehydration symptoms are not yet apparent. In such cases, oral administration of rehydration salts, 15 to 30 ml per dose, three to six times daily, is effective. As the disease progresses and diarrhea with dehydration symptoms appear, a combination of lactated Ringer's solution (50500 ml), 20% glucose (2040 ml), vitamin C (26 ml), ATP (12 ml), and an antimicrobial or antiviral antiinflammatory drug can be administered slowly via intravenous injection, twice daily.

3. In cases of severe vomiting and diarrhea, it is crucial to correct dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and acidbase disturbances promptly. A combination of lactated Ringer's solution, 20% glucose, atropine sulfate injection (0.31.0 ml), vitamin C, ATP, potassium chloride, and antimicrobial or antiviral antiinflammatory drugs can be administered slowly via intravenous injection. Additionally, intramuscular injections of Aminophylline (12 ml), dexamethasone (510 mg), and etamsylate (24 ml) can be given twice daily for 3 to 5 days as a course of treatment.

4. Strengthening care and maintaining warmth are vital. For dogs with significant diarrhea, feed highprotein, highfat food and encourage rest and plenty of water intake.

5. Strict disinfection and management are essential. Early isolation and thorough disinfection are crucial. Use peracetic acid or sodium hydroxide for repeated disinfection to eliminate pathogenic bacteria.

6. Vaccination against preventive vaccines can enhance the dog's ability to resist the virus. The canine trivalent attenuated inactivated vaccine can be used according to the standard vaccination schedule, which can effectively reduce the recurrence of the disease.