Copied with permission from Vanessa DeShong paps@showpapillons.com
ATTENTION BREEDERS
PARVO HAS BECOME ALMOST PANDEMIC IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
I have heard from many breeders about the Parvo outbreaks either they have had or that a breeder they know have had in the last 3 years. Finally we have a solution to the parvo problems in our kennels as well as a medication that helps most dogs survive if caught early.
What Parvo is: First we need to know that Parvo itself does not kill the dogs and pups, they die from secondary infections caused by the damage the parvo does.
Parvo is a virus that is carried in the stools of almost all canine species. Dogs can get Parvo from licking their paws, cleaning their fur, licking the hands or shoes of someone who has walked through the virus. It can be transmitted very innocently without even knowing it. basically the parvo can enter the dog through the dogs mouth from almost any source the dogs mouth comes in contact with.
DISINFECTING THE ENVIRONMENT Here's what we know about disinfection:Despite the introduction of new cleaners with all sorts of claims, parvovirus remains virtually impossible to completely remove from an environment. The goal of decontamination is to reduce the number of viral particles to an acceptable level. The best and most effective disinfectant against viruses (including parvoviruses) is BLEACH. One part bleach is mixed with 30 parts water and is applied to bowls, floors, surfaces, toys, bedding, and anything contaminated that is colorfast or for which color changes are not important.
Bleach completely kills parvovirus Disinfection becomes problematic for non-bleachable surfaces such as carpet or lawn. Outdoors, if good drainage is available, thorough watering down of the area may dilute any virus present. Since carpet is indoors, it may be best to simply wait a good month or so for the virus to die off before allowing any puppies access to the area.
WHAT PARVO DOES:
Parvo enters the dog through the dogs mouth, it then enters the blood stream and starts to destroy the dogs white blood cells. This compromises the dogs immune system and ability to fight off infection. It then goes to the dogs intestines and destroys the Villi or the little hairs that trap nutrients for the body. Once this is done the intestinal linings get inflamed and sluff away, When the intestinal lining gets thin, the dogs body can become septic because any food or fluids the dog ingests then goes into the system causing infection and dehydration. The dogs then die of the secondary infections caused by the damage done to the intestines.
TREATMENTS FOR PARVO:
Typically vets have little choice in treatment for parvo. The main treatment has been up until now to put the dog on IV fluids and wait until the parvo runs it's course, along with antibiotics.It then becomes a wait and hope situation hoping the dog makes it through. An adult dog has a much better chance than puppies, most puppies lost their fight for life that is until the new medications came to light
HOW TO PREVENT PARVO:
The logical course to prevent parvo is to make sure your dogs have had their complete course of vaccines. and stay up to date. It is too late once your dog has been infected.
When I had my outbreak of Parvo, I lost 5 puppies. I was at my vets one day discussing the problem and my fears, and a lady spoke up and asked if I had a parvo outbreak, I of course told her I had. This Ladies name was Nancy Stacy. She told me of her experience and what I should be doing.
First I should get the NEOPAR Vaccine (NEOPAR INFORMATION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE) and give it to my pups at 4 wks and 5 wks. then continue with the normal vaccine schedule, Neopar is a high titer vaccine that tends to override the mothers natural immunity in the pups and starts to build titers against all known strains of parvo. Thus protecting the pups from becoming infected when the mothers natural immunity decrease, ( this is the time the pups are most suseptible to getting parvo.
You can also dissinfect all areas the pups are subject to with Bleach, 4 oz per gallon of water. Make sure you wash your hands or use latex gloves before you touch the pups until they have had the full series of puppy shots.
WHAT CAN DONE IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR PUP HAS BEEN INFECTED.
First take you dog to the vet, tell them you suspect parvo. The vet should do a blood test and check the dogs white cell count. Some Vets use the Parvo snap test but I know of several of the tests that showed negative, and the dog died a day or two later from parvo. If your dog is lethargic and doesn't want to eat , take him immediately, others signs are vomiting and slimy diarrhea.
If the dog is caught in the early stages before it goes to the gut, the Vet should prescribe children's TAMIFLU. You will probably have to get this at the Pharmacy because I don't know of any vets that keep in on hand. Give the complete course of the medicine for the 5 days it is prescribed. It is not Clear why Tamiflu works but I know from experience it surely does. It stops the Parvo from destroying the cillia or little hairs in the intestines we believe therefore the intestines do not sluff and the secondary infections do not occur. The virus then runs it's course and My vet at the last time we spoke of parvo had not lost a single dog since he started to prescribe TAMIFLU.
TAMIFLU is an antiviral medication that is being stockpiled by the government in case of an outbreak of Bird flu. Like I said I don't know the specifics of why this works but it does work. You must get childrens TAMIFLU because it is in liquid form and can be given in small enough doses for our dogs. I gave it to 2 lb puppies I use the dosage .5 cc per 10lbs of body weight 2 x day for 5 days.
NEOPAR
When you receive your NEOPAR you will also get a recommendation sheet from the company. The instruction sheet tells you to start the pups at 42 days old (6 wks) This is a recommendation. Start your pups at 4 wks if you want to be sure to have your dogs build the titers it needs.below see the comparison of titers for Neopar VS other vaccines:
This comparison came from http://www.neotechvaccines.com/
CPV Vaccine Titer per Dose Comparison NEOPAR® (NEOTECH, LLC) Average serial 3,162,278/dose Vanguard (Pfizer) serial 183615090, Exp: 10/10/00 100,000/dose Progard (Intervet) serial 4019001, Exp: 8/1/00 245,471/dose Duramune KF-11 (Ft.Dodge) serial 1481474A, Exp: 4/1/01 794,328/dose Duramune Max PV (2b) (Ft.Dodge) serial 1211008, Exp: 5/22/00 15,849/dose
Titration done via direct FA and feline cell line at NEOTECH, LLC.
Personnel accomplishing titer have over 20 years experience in CPV quantitization.
ALBON
I recieved an email from Bev in Greenville SC, that Albon also can be used in parvo dogs, not as a preventative but to hold off any secondary infections that can be caused by the Parvo , this makes sense to me so I thought I would pass this on, thanks for the information Bev, anything we can do to help each other avoid Parvo and if infected to save the life of our wonderful dogs and puppies.NOW MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
I lost 5 pups to parvo, they were treated in the traditional ways and I treated the orignal 5 pups with remedies I found online, parvoguard and parvocide, and neither did anything to help my pups just drained my wallet.
. I then had 4 more pups that were starting to show signs of parvo, and I went to my vet and this time he prescribed TAMIFLU, since the pups were showing just the early signs Lethargy, not wanting to eat. Within 24 hours the results were dramatic within 48 hrs I had normal acting puppies again. I of course used the Tamiflu for the entire prescribed time 5 days. I then ordered Neopar and I had pups that were 4 wks, 5 wks and 6 wks old. I immediately gave them all Neopar and repeated the vaccine 1 wk later. I kept the pups confined to their quarters until 1 wk after the last shot in order to give them time to build titers. I can't tell you how good it is to feel comfortable knowing my pups are fine. Now my vet does not recommend this vaccination schedule. but at least he is seeing live pups not sick or dead ones. My pups even the 4wk old never had any reaction to the shots
Prevention is much cheaper and much better than watching the horrendous death of dogs with parvo. even the ones that survive go through hell.
Feel free to call or email me if you have any further questions Vanessa DeShong 352-245-4931, paps@showpapillons.com
I want to thank everyone who has called me and emailed me thanking me for this page, I am pleased that so many of you around the world have found it helpful, Vanessa
