At-Home Parvo Treatment Foster Protocol
General Information
What is Parvo?
Parvo is a virus that attacks a dogs gastrointestinal tract. Because Parvo is a virus we cannot cure it, we can only provide supportive care until the dog's own immune system is able to fight off the virus. Dogs and puppies that develop Parvovirus show symptoms of the illness within 3 to 7 days. The symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, not eating, and diarrhea (usually bloody). The first sign of Parvo is inappetnace and lethargy. Usually the second symptoms would be vomiting and/or diarrhea.
How did my dog get Parvo?
Parvo is transmitted via "fecal-oral" route, meaning the virus is shed from the feces, which can also infect the environment. Another patient can then ingest virus from the environment, or directly from infected feces. In short, your dog was in an area where Parvo particles were present. This could have been directly from another dog or a park, store, house, sidewalk, etc.
Prevention and Decontamination
Prevention is the only way to ensure that a puppy or dog remains healthy because the disease is extremely virulent and contagious. The virus is extremely hardy and has been found to survive in feces and other organic material such as soil for well over a year. It survives extremely cold and hot temperatures. The only household disinfectant that kills the virus is bleach; dilution at 1:32 if sufficient.
Puppies are typically given 3-4 DAPP vaccinations 3 to 4 weeks apart. The DAPP vaccine prevents Parvo and distemper. In order for a puppy to have immunity from Parvo they must receive all the vaccines in the series and/or receive the last DAPP at 5 months of age.
A dog that successfully recovers from Parvo sheds the virus for a few days. Ongoing infection risk is primarily from fecal contamination of the environment due to the virus's ability to survive many months in the environment. Neighbors and family members with dogs should be notified of infected pet so that they can ensure that their dogs are vaccinated and /or kept safely away from the sick dog.
Parvo At Home Treatment Instructions
Fluids
LRS SQ (under the skin) Fluids: Give 10 ml per pound your dog weighs (see take-home instructions for specific amounts) under the skin, close to right or left shoulder, twice a day until eating and drinking. See the video below for details on how to administer SQ medications.
Antibiotics
Baytril (yellowish) – Inject 1 syringe 1 time a day (every 24 hours) with fluids in line. Give at least a golf ball size of fluids under the skin first before injecting Baytril into the fluid line. After injecting, continue to run half of the prescribed fluids until complete. For example, if 150 cc LRS SQ FLUIDS were prescribed, give approximately 75 ml total with Baytril. Remove needed from under the skin and go to other shoulder for remaining injections (Polyflex and Reglan)
Polyflex (white) – Inject 1 syringe 2 times a day (every 12 hours) once in the morning and once in the evening, give in fluid line.
Anti-vomiting:
Reglan (clear) – Inject 1 syringe 2 times a day (every 12 hours) once in the morning and once in the evening, give in fluid line.
Cerenia (clear) - Injected into the fluid line 1 time a day (every 24 hrs). Stings when administered.
Food/Water
During treatment you will need to syringe feed your puppy. APA will provide a syringe (no needle) or you can purchase one at most grocery stores. Meat-based baby food is best (chicken, turkey, beef). You will feed approx 5-10 cc per 10 lbs twice a day . This is very important as it will speed up the recovery process.
Bathing Your Dog
After 7 days of your dog being completely, 100% healthy give him/her a very good bath making sure the get under the nails and around their butt. Any poop needs to be completely removed! Rinse and repeat. Make sure you do not take your dog ANYWHERE until you have done this!
SQ Treatment Demonstration
How To Disinfect A Home After Parvo
Wash all fabrics the dog has touched. Use bleach in the warm-wash cycle to kill any Parvo that may be present in the fabric. Include any bedding, blankets, towels, pillows, rugs, or clothing the dog has had contact with.
Disinfect flooring. Use a solution ratio of 1:32 (bleach/water) to disinfect hard surfaces such as tile, wood, cement, and linoleum. Use a stiff scrub brush to thoroughly clean the entire floor, including corners. Pour the bleach solution down the drain. Mix another bleach solution and repeat the process to ensure that all traces of the virus are killed.
Wipe down counters, cabinets and doors using a large spray bottle filled with a solution of two parts bleach to one part warm water. With a sponge, use small circular motions to thoroughly scrub the surfaces with the bleach mixture. Rinse the surfaces with warm water and allow to dry.
Remove all feces on your property. Place feces in a plastic trash bag and seal tightly. Remove and dispose of the bag away from the property. Disinfect areas where feces were found with a mix of two parts bleach to one part water.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL DOGS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH YOU AT ALL ARE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY HOUSED A PARVO DOG!!!
****YOUR HOUSE IS AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CONTAMINATED FOR 1 YEAR, EVEN AFTER CLEANING – DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE BRING PUPPIES INTO YOUR HOME/YARD!****
Please call 512-466-0720 with any questions or concerns.
Printable Handout
Please use the following printable version of this document as needed.
Parvo At-Home Handout.pdf