18/12/2025
š¦ PARVOVIRUS š¦
What a horrible illness for such vulnerable little puppies š
Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in confirmed cases this week.
**If you suspect your dog may have parvovirus - please remain in the car on arrival until the team has cleared you to enter the clinic.**
It is very important to keep your puppies isolated until they have completed their full vaccination schedule.
So that means:
- no walks
- no dog parks
- no wandering the front yard lawn
- no play dates
- no visitors that have dogs
How is it spread?
It can be spread by direct contact with an infected dog or indirectly through contaminated faeces in the environment. It can survive in the environment for years. This means you can bring it into your house on your shoes! So even if your dog ānever goes out the houseā, you can still bring it home to them. This is why vaccinations are so important.
Who is at risks?
Puppies aged 6 weeks to 6 months. Before 6 weeks of age, puppies have some immunity from their motherās milk, but that doesnāt mean you shouldnāt still be careful. Unvaccinated adults can also contract the virus.
What are the symptoms?
- lethargy, weakness
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- blood in faeces
- dehydration
- loss of appetite
- fever
How is it treated?
There is no magic cure for parvovirus. It is mainly supportive care. Severe cases require hospitalisation with intensive nursing, intravenous fluids, anti nausea medication, antibiotics, supplementation, in some cases feeding tubes, blood transfusions and plasma infusions.
Even with intensive nursing, this highly contagious virus can be deadly.
Donāt you just want to wrap your little baby up in bubble wrap? š¢
