Parvo
Warning
Please follow the vaccine protocol in a timely manner!
ATTENTION
Puppy Homes
PARVO HAS BECOME ALMOST PANDEMIC IN THE LAST FEW OF YEARS
Parvo Basics:
Parvo is a virus that can be transmitted easily on your clothing, shoes, hands, your dog's paws, or by licking infected items. Infections items would be: grass, concrete, stools, or anything recently contaminated with an infected dog. 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. Because this is important to understand we want to repeat how this disease is transmitted. 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 Parvo can enter the dog through the dogs mouth from almost any source the dogs mouth comes in contact with.
Combating a Parvo Outbreak--
Here are the best ways to ensure your puppy doesn't get Parvo:
Limit exposure to potentially affected areas until two weeks after your pup has had their last vaccination. It takes at least two weeks after a vaccination to develop immunity. Places to avoid are:
- Public Areas (Dog Parks, Pet Areas, Front Yards, anywhere other dogs are traveling.
- When you take you pet to the Vet office avoid contact with the waiting room floor, other dogs, and people as much as possible. Vet offices sanitized but face it.........if a dog is sick they will be taken to a Vet office.
- Avoid using Day Care for your puppy until they fully vaccinated.
- Get the required vaccinations on time.
- Work on building your puppies immune system. We recommend NuVet & Fastrack on a daily basis.
Parvo Basics--
Make good choices:
- Keep your puppy in your own fenced backyard as much as possible.
- If you need to leave your puppy, leave them with someone who has a fenced backyard of their own. Someone who own pets are vaccinated and healthy.
- Forego showing everyone your newest family as much as possible. If they come to visit have them slip their shoes off and wash their hands before handling the puppy. This simply precaution could save your puppies life.
Understanding how Parvo affects your dog's body--
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. This is very painful to watch. As you can guess, the small satisfaction from unwarranted risks are not worth it once your puppy has contracted Parvo.
Treating Parvo--
Typically vets have little choice in treatment for Parvo. The main treatment has been to let Parvo run its course and to give the dog IV fluids so they don't die from dehydration. The IV along with antibiotics was all the Vet's could offer. 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. One of these medications is TAMIFLU. TAMIFLU is an antiviral medication that is being stockpiled by the government in case of an outbreak of Bird flu. We don't know the specifics of why this works but it does work. You must get children's TAMIFLU because it is in liquid form and can be given in small enough doses for our dogs. Of course it is so much better to simply avoid getting Parvo!
A vaccine making a difference--
NeoPar has been our firstline against Parvo Virus in the last few years. With Weimaraners in particular you must be careful to not over-vaccinate and damage their immune system. It is a bit like walking a tightrope. One way we have addressed this issue to to add the NeoPar Parvo vaccine at 6 weeks to the Weimaraner Club of America's (WCA) Vaccination Protocol. Due vaccine related illness and deaths in a small percentage of Weimaraners the WCA has a very specific vaccination protocol which should always be followed. We have deviated slightly from this protocol to ensure protection for the puppies leaving our home at 7 - 9 weeks of age. Thus far we have never had a puppy or adult contract Parvo but we are acutely aware of the dangers. There are also dangers associated with over-vaccinating. We have tried to address these problems -- click here to read more on the topic. We believe the NeoPar boost the immunity and the titre level. Please visit their Website to learn more about the vaccine, the inventor, and proven results. The following comparison can be found on the NeoTech, LLC Website: http://www.neotechvaccines.com/
CPV Vaccine Titer per Dose Comparison
NEOPAR®
(NEOTECH, LLC) Average serial 
3,162,278/dose
3,162,278/doseVanguard
(Pfizer) serial 183615090, Exp: 10/10/00 100,000/dose
100,000/doseProgard
(Intervet) serial 4019001, Exp: 8/1/00245,471/dose
245,471/dose Duramune KF-11
(Ft.Dodge) serial 1481474A, Exp: 4/1/01 794,328/dose
794,328/doseDuramune Max PV (2b)
(Ft.Dodge) serial 1211008, Exp: 5/22/0015,849/dose
15,849/dose 