03/19/2026
Teddy, a 16-week-old puppy, was brought to us after becoming lethargic and developing vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite. Testing confirmed that Teddy had parvovirus, a very serious and often deadly virus that primarily affects young, unvaccinated puppies.
Parvovirus attacks the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, and without treatment it can progress rapidly. The good news in Teddy’s case was that he was brought in early in the course of the disease. Because of that, we were able to treat him with the canine parvovirus monoclonal antibody, along with a few days of supportive care to keep him hydrated and stable while his body fought the infection.
Teddy responded well to treatment, continued to improve over the next couple of days, and ultimately made a full recovery. He was able to go home to his family where he belongs.
Parvovirus is highly contagious but easily preventable through proper vaccination. Teddy’s story is a good reminder of how important those early puppy vaccines are in protecting them from this disease.