What Is Parvovirus?

The day started out like most others, but it didn't end that way.

Thor wasn't behaving normally. He spent most of the day Saturday sleeping, and wouldn't eat or drink as he normally did. He even turned his nose up at a can of tuna that evening, something that was perceived as a special treat for him.

At that time, we were worried that he had swallowed a foreign object (a screw) since he had been at a job site with John the day before. Thankfully, John was right there and immediately swept his mouth but he wasn't sure if the screw came out or not. In light of how he was behaving, it seemed natural to presume that the screw might still be inside him somewhere.

Parvo didn't enter our minds, and wouldn't until later on but we were both worried at this point. That was when phone calls began; there was something wrong with our boy and we needed answers.

Continue reading: The parvo diagnosis and life-saving treatment

Dogs that develop the disease will show symptoms of the illness within 5 to 10 days after being exposed.

Symptoms usually begin with a high fever, lethargy, depression, and loss of appetite. Other symptoms begin to appear shortly thereafter such as severe gastrointestinal distress; specifically vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

The diarrhea is particularly foul smelling and unlike anything else you may have come across before. It is either yellow in color or bloody.

In many cases, dehydration, shock, and death follow.

100 ct Gridlock Puppy Training 24" x 24" Wee Wee pads

Gridlock pads are a full 24" x 24" pad using a leak-proof plastic backing.

These literally saved our carpets when Thor was so sick.

Thankfully we found a vet who was willing to see Thor on Sunday. I was frantic by this time after staying up all night with him; watching him get progressively worse as the night went on.

We spoke with Dr. Norton on Saturday evening and he told us to give him a call first thing Sunday morning if Thor wasn't any better, or if he had gotten worse. After talking to him, we were told to bring him in immediately. The screw was still an unknown factor at this point and he wondered if it might not be poisoning him.

The exam showed that he had a temperature of 102, which was slightly elevated. He was extremely lethargic by this point and had some stomach tenderness present. Then it was off to get an x-ray ... except it didn't show a foreign body.

It was while preparing to x-ray him again that Thor expelled "copious amounts of bloody diarrhea with Parvo odor present".

The next few days proved to be a blur, but what I do know is that Thor was given immediate life-saving treatment. It consisted of intravenous fluids, antibiotics, anti-emetics, and anti-diarrhea medication. He was put into isolation.

He spent the next three days there, and we received updates twice daily.

Continue reading: Treatment At Home

Clean up all the stool in your yard. Parvo is transmitted via the feces of an infected dog.

Parvo is extremely hardy and has been found to survive in feces and other organic material such as soil for over a year. It survives extremely cold and hot temperatures, and the only household disinfectant that kills the virus is bleach.

Clorox Ultra Bleach

Use 4 oz. bleach to 1 gallon of water, a 1:30 ratio, to clean food and water bowls.

Wash any bedding your dog has been in contact with in this same bleach solution and hot water.

You should also try to disinfect any other areas that the dog has been, both inside and outside your house.

Thor remained in isolation for 3 days while hospitalized and on Wednesday evening, we were allowed to bring him home.

To see the toll that Parvo had taken on him broke my heart. He was literally a bag of bones and it was a harsh dose of reality seeing him that way.

He was on two different antibiotics, Tamiflu and SMZ, in addition to Pro-Pectalin for his diarrhea.

We were instructed to feed him as tolerated, and to continue encouraging fluids.

The first 24 hours Thor still seemed pretty sick; both with vomiting and diarrhea. By day two, the vomiting had stopped but the diarrhea continued.

Upon completion of the antibiotics, the diarrhea stopped as well.

Thor's appetite seemed to improve with each passing day. His first few days at home, I supplemented his kibble with rice, egg, tuna or yogurt (as recommended by his vet). We also 'trough fed' him, meaning that his food bowl was never empty and this lasted a week.

It was obvious to us that he was on his way to a full recovery.

Continue reading: Still Under Quarantine

Dogs and puppies can contract parvo even if they never leave their yards. Parvo virus is NOT an airborne virus. It is excreted in the feces of infected dogs.

Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Doberman Pinschers, and other black and tan breeds are especially prone to Parvo. The reason is unknown.

Without intense treatment, dogs with parvo will die of dehydration. Treatment generally consists of IV or sub-cutaneous fluids and antibiotics.

I wasn't having much luck finding a vet who I would trust to know what was wrong with Thor. A quick search on the few referrals we had been given was all it took, and we were getting desperate.

After a phone call to a childhood friend of John's, we were given the name of Dr. Keith Norton and told to call him. I am so grateful that we did!

He gave us updates twice daily, and was patient answering our many questions.

The biggest surprise? That came when we got the bill for the care he provided Thor.

We were expecting to pay 3-4 times more than what we were charged!

Thor's next follow-up needs to be scheduled for this week for vaccinations and to see how he has recovered from Parvo. Also, we need to decide when he's healthy enough to be neutered.

While Dr. Norton specializes in "smashed nosed" breeds such as pugs and boxers, he told us that he is willing to continue caring for Thor.

Norton's Ark, PLLC
Vetinary Clinic & Housecalls

Drs.Keith & Melissa Norton
13241 NE 109th Place
Redmond, WA  98052

Phone:  425-822-7847
Email:  nortons.ark@comcast.net