Canine Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus, often called “parvo”, is an extremely deadly disease spread via stool from one dog to another. Unfortunately, Parvo is very common in Oakland, spreads easily with rain and can stay in the soil up to eight years. The East Bay SPCA takes parvovirus extremely serious. There are special isolation rooms for infected puppies, along with dedicated tools and washing solutions to eliminate the virus from the shelter. There is no cure, but parvo is completely preventable with the simple act of vaccinating your puppy.

If you see any of the following signs in your puppy, please visit your veterinarian immediately:

• Change in appetite
• Lethargy or lack of energy
• Frequent, severe or bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort or distention (“pot belly”)

Prevention:

Vaccinate animal throughout entire life, especially puppies. Find out more getting vaccines at our Drop-In Vaccine Clinics and our Theodore B. Travers Family Veterinary Clinic.
Carry puppy when outside until s/he has had all shots, usually around four months of age.
Other options include:
• Use pee pads inside to potty train your puppy
• If you’ve lived in your house for eight years or more and never had an unvaccinated dog in your yard, it’s OK to let puppy on the ground in your backyard
• Let puppy eliminate on a concrete patch and spray down afterwards