parvovirus canine

Parvovirus, or parvo as it more commonly known, is an extremely contagious virus that primarily affects unvaccinated puppies, puppies who are partway through their vaccination course, or unvaccinated adult dogs. Discovered in 1967, the virus had spread worldwide by 1978 and by the late 1970s, a vaccine became available.

There is no cure for parvovirus and the virus is extremely resistant to disinfectants, alcohol, heat and the cold. Parvo is one of the most serious viruses a dog can get and infection can often be fatal, especially if treatment is not started quickly enough. Any dog owner that has been unlucky enough to have a dog with parvo can tell you what a horrible disease it is. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about making sure your dog is protected from parvo.

What is Parvo?

Parvovirus is a DNA virus. There are several types of DNA viruses that affect humans including the herpes virus that causes cold sores, the varicella-zoster virus that causes chicken pox or shingles, and