Who doesn’t love a puppy? No matter what kind of animal it is a bird, a dog, a cat and even a monkey. Baby animals are usually very tender, striking and affectionate. In addition, they are more docile and easy to adapt to the new environment.
For this reason, those who want a pet, strive to raise it from a very young age. However, it is no secret to anyone that the care of a puppy is greater, since, due to any carelessness, his life can endanger.
Among the most common pets are dogs. These are animals that, from a young age, are tender, playful and funny. Who doesn’t enjoy watching them play, run after a ball, or spin around to bite each other’s tails? However, keep in mind that every puppy requires certain basic care. Especially during the first years of life.
A silent enemy, which could end up blinding their lives at an early age, is the parvovirus. This is a disease and highly contagious in dogs. In fact, it is so deadly that if you don’t act quickly, it can kill you in no time.
In order to prevent your puppy from having this end, it is important to be able to identify what his symptoms are. Also, you should be aware of what treatment you should provide and, more importantly, know what you should do to prevent this disease.
Therefore, if you have a puppy at home or are thinking of having one, this information will be very useful to ensure that your dog reaches adulthood in a 100% healthy state.
This article has been written with animal lovers in mind, to ensure that you can be happy and enjoy your dog for many years to come. Let’s see it now.
Instructions
Parvovirus is a disease caused by a virus that affects the digestive system and causes strong diarrhea, which can be bloody. Other symptoms are lack of appetite, dehydration and fever.
It is one of the most common diseases in dogs and can be fatal. Especially in the case of puppies less than 3 months old. It is a very stable virus which can survive in the environment even for months. It is not a disease exclusive to one country. It affects dogs worldwide.
Some of the symptoms of this disease are as follows:
- Severe diarrhea, which has an unpleasant odor, can be quite watery and yellowish in color.
- Blood in the stool.
- A general weakness.
- Dehydration.
- Lack of appetite.
- Vomiting. You could even vomit blood.
- state of sadness
- Hollow eyes.
- Fever.
In addition to this, parvovirus can damage other vital areas related to the circulatory system. Since it can lower the level of red blood cells in the blood and cause the heart to malfunction.
Labradors, Dobermans, and Rottweiler’s are thought to be especially susceptible to it. Since its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, it is not so easy to diagnose it at first sight. Only a veterinary doctor is able to do it.
In view of the seriousness of the matter, what should you do if you suspect that your puppy has been infected with parvovirus?
What do you need
It is necessary that you know that, at present, there is still no treatment against this disease. However, there is the possibility of controlling their symptoms, avoiding bacteria that take advantage of the situation and avoiding dehydration, which is the main reason why they die.
In some cases, the disease requires hospitalization and it will be the veterinarian who determines what the most appropriate treatment will be. Depending on the case, treatment may include:
- A fluid therapy with isotonic in order to rehydrate the puppy, since it is essential to replace the liquid it has lost. Then, the owner will probably have to inject serum, subcutaneously, at home.
- Sometimes a blood transfusion is necessary.
- You should also be given antiemetic drugs to keep vomiting under control.
- The administration of antibiotics, such as penicillin to effectively control secondary intestinal infections, which can be caused by bacteria.
- These antibiotics must be combined with others, such as metronidazole, to control the presence of anaerobic parasites.
- B complex and other vitamins.
On the other hand, at the onset of symptoms, perhaps the first 24 or 48 hours, the puppy may not want to eat. Maybe everything he eats, and then he throws it up. In such a case, it would be best not to force it. However, you need to keep it hydrated. In order to be successful in this particular, you can offer him chicken or beef broth.
As her recovery progresses, you can offer her small amounts of food. The ideal would be a soft diet that is easy to digest. Some of these foods can be chicken or turkey meat boiled with rice and cooked carrots, chicken soup or natural yogurt without sugar.
Of course, naturally, no one wants their puppy to go through this difficult and painful situation. Therefore, in such a case, the ideal would be to be able to prevent this disease. But how then to do it?
Tips
Although there is no treatment for this specific disease, there is a vaccine that should be given to both puppies and adult dogs.
It is important that you visit your veterinarian regularly to determine when they should receive their vaccinations. Likewise, timely internal deworming is essential. While it is true that vaccines will not protect you 100% from diseases, they are the best way to prevent them.
Other measures that can help you in the prevention of parvovirus and other diseases are the following:
- Make sure you maintain good hygiene both in the house and in the place where the puppy sleeps.
- Regularly wash and disinfect your food and water bowls. In addition to his toys and the clothes we use to cover his bed.
- Keep it dewormed internally.
- Take him to the veterinarian routinely.
- Do not go to places where you know or suspect that there may be animals that are sick or that have not been vaccinated.
- Do not allow the dog or puppy to eat the feces of other dogs.
- If the puppy is adopted, test it for major infectious diseases. Especially if you already have other dogs in your house.
- Keep it in quarantine for at least two weeks, until you are sure that it is completely disease-free.
- It is not recommended that you buy puppies from pet stores. The overcrowding situation, as well as the lack of sanitation, due to lack of control, makes them more prone to developing diseases, such as parvovirus.
- If you want to buy a puppy, the best thing you can do is find a responsible breeder with a good reputation and who can guarantee that the puppy is up to date with all vaccinations and health tests.
Also, observe the environment well to make sure that it has been raised in a clean and adequate environment, which does not put its health at risk.
If you follow these recommendations to the letter, you will considerably reduce the possibility that your dog will get sick with parvovirus or some other disease that can put his life at risk.
Remember that animals are living beings and that dogs tend to be very grateful and more than repay the love and attention you give them.
