Oprah's dog dies from Parvo; dog owners urged to get their dogs vaccinated for Parvovirus

March 14, 11:35 PMBoston Pets ExaminerMia Carter

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Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has brought attention to the issue of canine Parvovirus - an illness that every Boston area dog owner should take measures to prevent.

Oprah recently lost her Cocker Spaniel puppy Ivan to Parvo. Oprah's second puppy Sadie, Ivan's littermate, has also been diagnosed with Parvo and the dog continues to fight for her life.

It's believed that the two Cocker Spaniel puppies caught Parvo while staying at the PAWS animal shelter in Chicago. Animal shelters, kennels, doggy daycares and other locations where multiple dogs congregate create the perfect setting for the spread of Parvo.

A dog -- puppies especially -- can contract Parvo if they come in contact with feces from an infected dog. Parvo can live in feces and on surfaces for nearly six months, which only highlights the need to disinfect kennels, toys, bedding and any other items in a kennel, animal shelter or other similar setting.

What Are the Symptoms of Parvo?

Parvo most often targets the lining of a puppy's intestines. As a result, a puppy that's sick with Parvo will have symptoms like severe diarrhea (often, bloody diarrhea), dehydration, lethargy and weight loss.

Puppies with Parvo can sometimes die of sudden heart failure. Parvovirus targets areas where new cells are produced at a fast rate; a young puppy's heart is one place where these cells are replicating. The virus infects the heart muscle and the dog will die as a result of the effect of Parvo on the heart.

Puppies are more prone to Parvo, in part because their bodies are a powerhouse of new cell development due to the puppy's growth and development. Puppies also have a weaker immune system and young puppies are less apt to be vaccinated for Parvo.

Preventing Parvovirus in Puppies and Adult Dogs

The most effective way to prevent Parvo involves getting a Parvo vaccination. Puppies should be vaccinated for the first time at 6 weeks of age; subsequent Parvo vaccinations should be administered every three to four weeks until the age of 20 weeks.

Adult dogs should also receive the Parvo vaccine, which is included in the annual DHLPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus) vaccination.

Notably, no dog is immune to Parvo. Even vaccinated dogs can contract Parvo; vaccinated dogs simply have a much lower chance of contracting this deadly dog virus. Like all viruses, Parvo evolves and changes into new strains that the vaccine does not protect against. As new strains of Parvo emerge, scientists must identify the new strain and then develop a vaccine to protect against that particular form of Parvo.

Dog owners should always seek out clean animal shelters, kennels, doggy daycares, etc., where surfaces and kennels are regularly disinfected and sick dogs are isolated from the general population. Any concerns should be addresed with shelter staff, kennel staff or doggy daycare staff.

Boston Area Veterinary Clinics That Treat Dogs With Parvo

If a dog owner suspects that a puppy has Parvo, emergency veterinary attention is required as a dog can quickly succumb to this virus.

To learn more about 24-hour emergency veterinary clinics in the Boston area, check out this article by the Boston Pets Examiner.

To learn more about Parvovirus, check out this article on Parvo and Oprah's recent loss of her puppy to this deadly virus.

Source: John Yates, Parvo Claims Oprah's Rescue Puppy