Parvovirus is caused by a virus that attacks the fast dividing cells in the intestinal crypts (valleys) and bone marrow of dogs and puppies not fully vaccinated resulting in vomiting and bloody diarrhea, dehydration, secondary bacterial infection and eventually death if untreated.\r
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Antibiotics treat the bacteria, not the virus. Putting a parvo infected pet on antibiotics and keeping them hydrated sounds like a plan for a cure BUT it is not!\r
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Patients with parvoviral infection are vomiting and having bloody diarrhea of such a volume it is almost impossible to rehydrate them orally, and they're VOMITING (not keeping anything down orally)!\r
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Ideal treatment includes hospitalization, IV fluids, antiemetics (stop vomiting), antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection, GI protectants (antacids, etc), immunostimulants, etc until they stop vomiting and having diarrhea and start eating and drinking on their own (AFTER virus has run its course as there is no cure for the viral infection). This can take anywhere from 2 to 14 days with average being 4-5 days. \r
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Can parvo puppies and dogs be treated outside hospital setting? Yes, but it IS NOT recommended because it is very difficult if not impossible to keep them hydrated.\r
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BEST TREATMENT FOR PARVO: Have your puppy vaccinated every 2 to3 weeks until it is around 4 months of age (older fro some breeds) starting when 6 to 7 weeks old. \r
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Do not take your puppy to public places where other sick dogs and puppies frequent such as the dog park, pet shops, etc. until it is fully vaccinated (approximately 4 sets of shots-5-way,7-way,etc).\r
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If pet owners follow these simple steps they can prevent parvovirus infection from even being a concern and not have the heart break of making a tough decision such as Titan's owner had to make. \r
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RIP in Titan and 1000's of other puppies and dogs who've died from parvo or been euthanized to prevent suffering and dying a slow miserable death.
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