Parvoviruses are non-enveloped, isometric DNA viruses. Dogs, especially puppies, are very susceptible to infection, mainly through direct and indirect contact infection, such as sick dog feces, urine, vomit and saliva, virus-contaminated food, bedding, etc. can spread the virus.

Irish Water Spaniel

in the pack Raised dog farms, the incidence of this disease can reach more than 50%, and the fatality rate is 30% to 70%.

The clinical manifestations of parvovirus are mainly of two types, namely myocarditis type and enteritis type.

Myocarditis type generally has no obvious symptoms and looks healthy on the outside, but can suddenly die due to cardiac insufficiency, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and difficulty breathing. Pulmonary edema, cardiac fibrotic edema, myocardial degeneration and necrosis, or enlargement of the heart and softening of the myocardium can be seen during dissection.

The clinical symptoms of enteritis type are more obvious. After infection, the body temperature of sick dogs can reach 39.5 to 40.5 ℃, but sometimes the body temperature will be normal. At the time of onset, it can be seen that the dog is depressed, refuses to eat, vomits, and has diarrhea. The feces begin to be gray and yellow, and later become tomato juice-like bloody stools, accompanied by a special stench. In addition, the sick dog will lose weight quickly. Due to repeated diarrhea, the sick dog will be severely dehydrated, resulting in sunken conjunctiva and loss of skin elasticity.

A dog with an acute attack of parvovirus can die within 1 to 2 days; a chronic attack can take up to 1 week. Parvovirus is generally diagnosed based on vomiting and bloody stools like tomato juice.