DistemperParvo

I would like to have my new puppy
immunized. I understand that the main
purpose of the vaccination program is to
protect against two diseases, distemper and
parvo. I have known about distemper for
years, but have heard little about parvo.
What is parvo? Why did I not hear anything
about it ten years ago?

Parvo is a viral disease that attacks the lining
of the intestinal tract. The most common
symptoms are vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Left untreated parvo usually causes profound
dehydration and death. Death may occur in 12
hours after the onset of the symptoms, making
parvo a common cause of sudden mortality of
young dogs in this area.

With intensive intravenous fluid therapy and
good supportive care, the majority of affected
animals will survive, showing improvement in
three to five days. In spite of the veterinarian's
best efforts however, some dogs can not be
saved.

Prior to 1978, there was not a reported case of
parvo. Studies of serum samples taken before
1978 show no evidence of antibodies against
the virus. Parvo is actually a new disease.