Parvo

[sholio]

Anybody out there know anything about canine parvovirus and whether it's dangerous to adult dogs?

I'm heading downstate tomorrow to visit my brother and his family for a few days. I just found out tonight that one of their dogs has an active case of parvo and has been in the house and in contact with their other pets, so the whole place is contaminated. I've got three adult dogs -- I know that one of them (the one I raised from a puppy) has had his full history of shots, but the others are both rescue dogs that I got as adults, so I have no idea what their shot history is, though they've both had their most recent set of standard vaccinations, which I understand includes parvo.

I plan to take precautions such as washing my clothes and hands before coming back into contact with my own dogs and bleaching my shoes -- which may sound a bit extreme, but I really, really don't want to get my own house infected with the virus. I know that it's easily spread and very difficult to eradicate, and that adult dogs can acquire it and spread it around even if they don't show symptoms.

Of course it's a weekend, so I can't call my vet to ask. *aargh*

Anybody got any advice?

I'm also rather ticked off at my brother for not telling me about this; I found out from another family member. But that's a whole other tangent...

Comments

[bbuttercup.livejournal.com]

My sister's dog, a Labrador retriever, was an adult when he was exposed. He was about a year and half and the size of a moose. It was an awful, bloody mess and he was sick and miserable but luckily our vet pulled him through.

I had three dogs at the time and they had all been inoculated. My vet suggested that I still bleach my shoes and clothing but he also told me that a lot of people don't realize that they can track the virus into their vehicles before they clean up at home.

[sholio]

Thank you for the info!

I might take along a set of shoes just to wear around their yard and house, and then toss them afterwards. I know it might sound like overreacting, but I'd really rather go a little overboard on the precautions and not have to risk losing my dogs.

[tringasolitaria.livejournal.com]

I think any dog, if they get it, is in trouble. The death rate is higher for puppies, but it's not good for adult dogs either. I guess the question is whether or not their vaccinations are enough to protect them. I'm not a animal professional, and it sounds like you probably know more about dogs then I do. But here's a few links I pulled up in a google search, if you're interested, and haven't done that already. Not sure if they will help....

http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/canine_parvo/parvo_brochure.asp
http://www.cpvh.com/Articles/39.html
http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm

My brother got a Great Pyrenees pup several months ago and she came down with parvo right after coming home. He managed to nurse her through it and she's fine now, although it looked pretty bad for a few days. The three adult dogs in the house had previously been vaccinated, and didn't have a problem, but I think they tried to keep her pretty isolated, at least once they figured out what was going on. But that's just one instance.....

[sholio]

Thank you for the links! I'll take a look at them. Really, I don't know that much, just what I've found out from Googling tonight. It's very helpful to hear from people who've had actual experience with it.

[shrewreader.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what they've told you -- adults can get parvo, vaccination helps, but may not be 100% (I don't know the rate for vaccination failures.)

In any case -- your thought on shoes just for there is a really good one. You might want to put newspaper down in your car just to be safe.

And feel free to strangle your brother. That's just thoughtless.

[blade-girl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what everyone else said. Adult dogs are potentially susceptible to parvo even if they are fully vaccinated and otherwise healthy. Better safe than sorry. And I can't understand why your brother didn't separate the infected dog from his other dogs. That seems like asking to lose the whole bunch, or at least for a big mess.

[pavaneofstars.livejournal.com]

I've been reading the comments posted here with interest. I was supposed to be dogsitting for someone starting this weekend but her little pup has been diagnosed with parvo, which I don't know that much about. I had been over to her house and petted and had the pup in my lap. This was before the diagnosis was made. I don't have dogs at my house but I do have a cat. And while the owner told me over the phone when she called to let me know the diagnosis and that I wouldn't be needed for dogsitting this week, I was a little bit worried for my cat. She didn't think that cat's can catch it, but still I'm worried. And as you said, it's the weekend so I can't call the vet until Monday morning. :S

[tipper-green.livejournal.com]

Hey, if you haven't left yet, drop me a line (megtipper@hotmail.com). One of my friends is both a vet and a clinical pathologist. She can probably tell you everything you need.