Symptoms of parvovirus enteritis in dogs and cats. Treatment of the disease

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

You have a puppy at home. Of course, this is a joyful event, but you must remember that it is also a huge responsibility. First of all, you must monitor the he alth of your pet and try to protect him from the most serious diseases, in particular from parvovirus enteritis. Today we will tell you in detail about this disease, which until recently meant almost a death sentence. Now the situation has changed, modern vaccines are a fairly reliable protection against this formidable disease, and veterinary drugs can cure it at almost any stage.

The most important thing is not to allow the animal to be severely dehydrated, because otherwise the chances of recovery will drop sharply. So the sooner you get your pet to the clinic, the easier it will be to treat parvovirus enteritis.

What is this

Indeed, it is better to start from the very beginning. So let's start with the definition of parvovirus enteritis. itan acute viral disease that causes inflammation and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, as well as damage to the heart muscle. Most often, young individuals aged from 2 months to two years are susceptible to this disease. In this case, a person cannot get sick. Outbreaks of this virus are most common in spring and autumn.

Causes and development of the disease

Even without being a veterinarian, you can easily distinguish the signs of parvovirus enteritis. In the vast majority of cases, the disease affects a dog under the age of 6 months. The causative agent is a virus. When the DNA containing the virus enters the body, it begins to actively multiply in the epithelial cells of the intestine. This leads to their mass death. The immunity of the animal is completely blocked, and necrosis products begin to be absorbed into the blood. In response to this, the body tries to defend itself and turns on the mechanism of blood clotting. This leads to microthrombi and disturbed blood circulation in vital organs. These are the kidneys and liver, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. After the clotting mechanisms are exhausted, bleeding of the intestinal mucosa is observed.

But all this is not the worst. Parvovirus enteritis in puppies proceeds with a complete rejection of water. Usually already on the 2nd-3rd day signs of hypovolemic shock develop, acute renal failure develops. In turn, damage to the heart muscle very quickly leads to pulmonary edema and heart failure. So, in a matter of days, the disease destroys all organs and systems and kills the animal.

Sources of disease

Treatment of parvovirus enteritis will be effective only when we know exactly where the trouble should come from and how to avoid it as efficiently as possible. So, sick dogs serve as a source of infection. These are virus carriers that release a huge amount of the virus into the external environment. These are feces, urine and saliva. Rodents, insects, and even people who do not get sick themselves are still carriers. Infection can occur through infected feed and water, through contact with a sick animal (sniffing and licking it, or objects infected by it). Infection through bedding or care items is possible, it should be especially taken into account that the pathogen is very tenacious and persists in the external environment for a long time. It is resistant to heat and exposure to ether and chlorine, alcohol and soda. Therefore, taking puppies to a veterinary clinic for vaccination is not the best option. Usually there they disinfect the tables with alcohol, and this does not have any effect on the pathogen. As you can see, there are a lot of dangers around, and you need to learn to anticipate them all in order to prevent this formidable disease.

Prevention or risk zone

Any disease is much easier to prevent than to treat, but this is especially true for such a formidable disease as parvovirus enteritis. Prevention, first of all, is aimed at increasing the resistance of the pet's body itself, that is, resistance to bacteria and viruses. If this natural barrier is strong, then there is no need to be afraid. In order to increase resilience,You need to take good care of your pet. Good living conditions and high-quality feeding, timely prevention of helminthic invasions, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and avoidance of stressful situations are half the battle in protecting your pet from enteritis. Why half, because the second falls on preventive vaccinations. In today's world, it's unwise to dismiss scientific advances in the form of reliable vaccines and rely on chance. Be sure to complete all routine vaccinations that your veterinarian will prescribe for you.

Signs to look out for right away

Today we are talking about parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms, treatment and prevention are the information that owners need in order to respond in time to disturbing changes. First of all, remember that the disease develops rapidly. From the very first symptom to the death of the animal, it can take only 3-4 days. The maximum that an animal can last without treatment is 7 days. Vomiting appears first. It is impossible to stop it, forcibly forcing the pet to drink or eat, you will only make it worse. It is necessary to remove intoxication by intravenous infusion of special solutions.

Sometimes gray-yellow diarrhea appears already at the first stage. The puppy completely refuses water and food. In this case, the condition worsens very quickly. Even if the first symptoms appear in the evening, you should try to take the animal to the veterinarian. Until the morning, painful vomiting can bring the state tocritical. As a last resort, call the nearest veterinary station and tell them what's going on. Every doctor knows how serious the disease is parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms, treatment today - having collected all this information, the doctor will be able to guide you in how to help your four-legged friend.

The situation is getting worse

So, if the treatment was not started, or fails, the vomiting will continue. The stools become offensive. Very often blood appears in the feces, sometimes worms come out. Thick saliva accumulates in the mouth, the animal does not have the strength to swallow it. Eyeballs sink, murmurs are heard in the heart, and wheezing in the lungs. At the same time, severe tachycardia is a very bad symptom, which means that the cardiovascular system is affected too much, and the prognosis is disappointing. If the body temperature was initially elevated, now it drops to 35 degrees and below. The abdomen is usually tense and painful. Shortness of breath develops. Mucous membranes lose their luster, become gray or reddish. Even with correct, intensive, but late-started therapy, mortality is very high, so it is imperative to organize treatment as soon as possible.

Clinical signs

The worst thing is when puppies develop parvovirus enteritis. How to treat a young and fragile body when a virus destroys the heart and liver, kidneys and immune system. Enough to delay the startintensive care for only a few hours, and even if he recovers, the dog will remain a regular client of the veterinarian for life, as a huge number of chronic diseases will grow out of this. The incubation period is only 4-10 days, while the dog begins to shed the virus into the external environment already on the third day, when symptoms may be completely absent. These discharges pass on the 15-20th day, subject to survival. This ailment manifests itself in three forms, each of which can proceed at lightning speed or acutely. If in the second case it is quite possible to save the pet, then in the first case you may not even have time to see a doctor.

Intestinal form of the disease

It is the manifestations of this form that parvovirus enteritis is most famous for. Prevention is to keep the dog's intestines in perfect condition, then the immunity will be strong, and it is much more difficult for the virus to break through its defenses. First of all, it is high-quality, rational nutrition and timely antihelminthic therapy. At the same time, the acute form proceeds with practically no signs of enteritis, the puppy shows a breakdown and dies after a few hours. Mortality is very high, it is about 60%.

At the same time, anorexia is observed, a complete refusal of food. Very strong, mucous vomiting develops. 6 hours after it starts, the dog develops diarrhea. In this case, the feces are first gray, and then acquire green or purple hues. Very often they contain streaks of blood, sometimes they areslimy or watery, almost always with a fetid odor. Body temperature at this stage is most often elevated. At the same time, vomiting and diarrhea very quickly deplete forces, after which a state of shock occurs. This is the most common case of parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms can be only a day ahead of death if you fail to stop fluid loss.

Treatment of the intestinal form of enteritis

First of all, it is necessary to provide the animal with complete rest, because it will take strength to overcome parvovirus enteritis. How to treat, it is necessary to coordinate with the veterinarian. Eating and drinking is completely canceled until the doctor allows it, forced infusion will only aggravate the situation. It is highly recommended to use vaseline oil, which coats the walls of the stomach and intestines and interferes with the absorption of necrosis products.

In order to provide first aid, you should have "Levomycetin succinate" in your first aid kit. It is an antibiotic that is aimed at treating diarrhea. You will also need "No-shpa" and "Analgin" to relieve pain symptoms. In addition, "No-shpa" relieves spasms, which means that vomiting decreases. "Analgin" together with "Dimedrol" (two ampoules are drawn into one syringe and injected intramuscularly) perfectly brings down the temperature. In severe and prolonged illness, it is necessary to have saline and glucose at home, which can be administered at least subcutaneously to avoid dehydration.

Cardiacform of enteritis

Meets much less often, most often as a secondary complication. After suffering enteritis, after some time, acute myocardial damage is observed. That is, we can diagnose heart failure with a weak pulse and pulmonary edema. Most often, animals die suddenly due to disorders in the cardiac muscle of the nervous patency. Mortality is very high, reaching 80%. It is very important to include Sulfocamphocaine, Cordiamin, or other drugs in the treatment regimen to maintain cardiac activity. Finally, there is a mixed form, when various lesions of the cardiovascular and digestive, respiratory systems of the body are observed. This is typical for weakened animals with a weakened immune system. In this case, the clinical picture can be blurred, and the symptoms are very diverse.

Treatment of dogs

The sooner you see a doctor, the more likely you are to beat parvovirus enteritis. Symptoms will rapidly increase, so put aside everything and rather see a specialist. It should be noted that the treatment of this disease is becoming increasingly difficult. The virus mutates and adapts, and doctors invent new schemes. The treatment is symptomatic, so the veterinarian will offer his own scheme for each patient. Most often, it includes sulfonamides, antibiotics, novocaine blockade, heart drugs, as well as saline and glucose. However, the fact that the number of drugs produced specifically for animals is growing does not make it easier to defeat parvovirus enteritis in puppies. How to treat this or thatanimal, sometimes you have to decide along the way, watching the reaction of the body.

The classic treatment regimen necessarily includes polyvalent serum, that is, globulins against enteritis. In fact, this is a fraction of the blood serum of an animal that has been vaccinated with a special vaccine, in response to which the body has developed antibodies. It is they who help the sick animal to overcome the disease. In addition to globulins, saline and antibiotics ("Ampicillin" and "Oxycillin") are necessarily used. It is equally important to block vomiting; for this, Cerucal is used. Each doctor must prescribe Dimedrol, an antihistamine drug, which is an excellent antispasmodic and pain reliever. Additionally, "Sulfocamphocaine" is used to stimulate cardiac activity and vitamins.

Parvovirus enteritis in cats

Clinical symptoms are very similar to those we have already listed. These are vomiting and diarrhea, depression, fever and fever. However, high mortality is only in the hyperacute course of the disease, which is not so common. The acute course of the disease is characterized by anorexia, damage to the intestinal mucosa and the rapid growth of bacteria. The probability of death is from 25 to 90%. Subacute and subclinical forms are much more common, but cats recover even without outside intervention. There is no specific treatment, the doctor can prescribe only supportive therapy.

From dog to human or vice versa

Actually, be afraidthis disease is not worth it. Parvovirus enteritis does not occur in humans, and therefore take care of your sick pet quite calmly. But you yourself can become a source of danger for your pet. The virus can come home with your clothes and shoes, toys, various things from the veterinary clinic. Keep in mind that a variety of animals are brought there and, simply by going for vitamins or anthelmintic drugs, you can bring dangerous pathogens to domra. Their durability is truly incredible. Neither cold nor boiling water takes them, chlorine and alcohol are powerless. It remains in the ground and biological waste for several years.

The fact that parvovirus enteritis in dogs is transmitted to humans is a fairy tale, but treatment must be taken very seriously. If your pet did not survive, do not rush to replace it with another. The causative agents of the virus can survive in the most secluded corners of the booth or bedding, on hedges that young animals like to bite, and just on the ground. Therefore, if you live in a private house, it will not work to disinfect everything. Therefore, it is necessary to wait two or three years, and then buy a new dog, always from a vaccinated female.