Parvo is the shortened term for the canine parvovirus, a viral disease that affects dogs. The parvovirus most commonly affects puppies as the virus attacks the rapidly developing cells in a young dog’s body, but dogs of all ages can become infected. Parvo generally affects the intestines causing diarrhea that is often bloody, but parvo can also affect the heart causing it to fail. Parvo is the most common lethal virus known to affect dogs, but is preventable with the parvo vaccine.

Parvo is an extremely contagious virus that is transmitted through fecal matter. The virus can live for weeks or months in areas where feces from infected dogs have been deposited. Parvo is highly resistant to surface disinfectants, but many veterinarian offices and kennels use bleach as surface disinfectants because it is the most effective. An unvaccinated dog is highly susceptible to the parvovirus.

An infected dog will display symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy. A loss of appetite is another significant symptom along with fever. Complications of parvo include dehydration, shock and death. Vaccinated dogs can be carriers of parvo without being infected and may not display any symptoms of the virus at all.

Because of the parvovirus’s highly contagious nature, it is important to vaccinate dogs against the virus. The parvo vaccine is part of routine veterinary vaccinations recommended for all puppies and dogs. The parvo vaccine is generally administered around six weeks and is re-administered three to four additional times before the dog is a year old and annually after that.

There is no cure for parvo, however veterinarian treatment for the disease, which includes intravenous fluids and medications, can sustain a dog’s body systems during the course of the disease. Unlike many human viruses, the contraction of canine parvovirus does not cause the dog’s body to develop immunity or resistance and the dog can contract parvo again.

To prevent parvo, veterinarians recommend having every puppy properly vaccinated during the first 20 weeks of life and annually each year after. With the proper vaccination your dog will be protected from the virus, but if you believe your unprotected dog has contracted the virus or know he has been exposed, you should consult a veterinarian. If you have a dog without vaccination records or are unsure of their medical history, you should take them to a veterinarian for examination.