If your pet has been displaying abnormal and scary signs of illness, one thing the vet will be
checking it for is Parvo. Though most dogs are vaccinated at a young age, those that miss this vaccination
can experience quite a rough illness.
Most dogs can contract this serious infection by ingesting the feces of another dog
that is or has been recently infected. In fact, that is the most common way for the illness to be
spread. However, the virus can also be commonly spread by the dog's skin, to which the virus can
spread to and live on. Other dogs can be infected that way by simply sniffing, licking, or rubbing
against the other dog.
When your dog has been infected, there will be common symptoms to watch for. Since the mortality
rate for an untreated infection of the Parvovirus is extremely high, you'll want to pay attention
to catch notice of these things as soon as possible. Luckily, the symptoms of Parvo are often hard
to go unnoticed by loving owners.
Your dog will experience a loss of energy. If your dog looks sad or tired more
often than normal, that may be one of the first warning signs that something is wrong. The more
serious symptoms include bloody diarrhea. Though this normally carries a foul odor,
the odor will become more extreme after infection.
Vomiting is another symptom to watch for. The look and texture will normally be
transparent and frothy, especially when they begin to lose water in their bodies. Sometimes the
vomit may also contain blood. Vomiting accompanying the continual diarrhea can easily lead to dehydration
of the dog. With their body rejecting fluids, it can become very difficult to get them rehydrated.
Your dog will also be prone to experiencing a high fever and a loss of appetite.
If your dog isn't eating and can't keep what it tries to ingest down, that is something that should
warn you immediately. A way to tell if the dog has a fever is to touch their nose. A dog should
always have a healthy and wet nose. If the dog's nose is dry, it can usually indicate that your
pooch is feeling unwell. Another way to tell is if your dog is panting in fair weather and without
too much physical exertion.
If your dog is experiencing any of the more severe symptoms, or a high combination of the symptoms
listed, it is highly advised to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.