It’s quite thrilling when a new fur member is welcomed into a family. However, this heartwarming moment can be a nightmare for many new pet owners. Parvovirus is very prevalent in pups and adolescent dogs, especially the unvaccinated ones. This infection can turn bushy-tailed, healthy, and playful puppies extremely ill and even result in death when not treated straight away.
Given that it’s a usual occurrence in canines, preventing it from happening should be among the most prioritized concerns for most pet parents. Now, let us know how to protect your pet from the infection.
How to Prevent Parvo in Dogs
Parvo is a highly infectious and lethal virus that can cause severe gastrointestinal diseases to young pets when overlooked. Another startling thing about the infection is its level of contagiousness and how it can affect a population of dogs. Doing preventative steps to avoid this virus is better than handling it once it infects your dog. Here are five easy pointers to keep your dog healthy and far from parvovirus.
1. Visit your vet
Immediately bringing your canine to a vet upon suspicion that they have parvovirus is important. The infection can kill a pet within 24-48 hours of contraction. So if your canine gets immediate care faster, the higher chances they can overcome the disease. Some symptoms of parvo you must watch out for are a loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Seeing an internal medicine veterinarian is a reliable rule of thumb if you believe your canine suffers from the virus. Aggressive therapies are normally warranted to ensure that contagious conditions like parvo are treated successfully. You may visit this website to learn more about vet internal medicine and what conditions they treat.
2. Limit your dog’s exposure to other dogs
Fully vaccinated canines are immune to parvo, but they could still be carriers of the virus, putting unvaccinated puppies at risk. If your dog is not fully vaccinated, avoid bringing them outside if not required. Instead, wait for your furry companion to get fully vaccinated before letting them play outdoors with their doggy pals to minimize their chances of contracting the virus.
Limiting your pet’s exposure to their fellows will help secure them from unanticipated accidents and fights that may lead to injuries or internal bleeding, which might need vet surgeons’ attention.
3. Vaccinate your puppy
Having your pet vaccinated in facilities like Knightdale Animal Hospital helps protect them from parvovirus. Dog parvo vaccination must be administered for puppies at around 6-8 weeks of their age. This involves boosters every three weeks when they reach sixteen weeks of age and boosters every three years.
Your dog should have immunity to the infection after the first 3 initial vaccinations. Afterward, routine annual boosters still have to be administered to ensure your pets keep their immunity.
4. Deworm your dog
Unvaccinated puppies and those with intestinal parasites have feeble immune systems. Worms can bring several unforeseen health problems and put them at greater threat of contracting parvo due to their weakened immune system. By preventing worms in your puppies, you are protecting them from parvovirus and health problems that may be caused by it.
Ask your vet for the most effective heartworm medicines for your dog’s breed to protect them from intestinal worms. Additionally, bringing your pets to veterinarians for routine cat and dog checkups in Knightdale is always essential to maintain their well-being and identify what health issues disturb their health.
5. Keep your house clean
Although parvovirus is not airborne, it may still live on surface areas and can be difficult to wipe out. Extensively cleaning your home with a solution of bleach is the most effective method as typical soaps and disinfectants can’t kill the virus.
