|

Home Remedies for Parvo in Puppies

If your dog happens to acquire Canine Parvovirus Infection (CPF), you need to act fast and bring your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic for diagnosis. Taking your pup to the vet is essential, as this type of infection cannot be treated by the remedies listed in this article alone.  

These remedies are just conjunctions to your veterinarian’s medications for your dog that will help them overcome the virus and lessen the appearance of symptoms.

four puppies sleeping

What is Parvovirus?

Canine Parvovirus Infection (CPV), or commonly referred to simply as parvo, is a highly contagious type of viral disease that spreads through fecal matter. Additionally, people, other animals, and inanimate objects such as toys, can heighten the spread of the virus if left improperly disinfected after contact with the disease-causing virus. This deadly disease tends to affect puppies more often than adult dogs of different breeds as statistics suggest, 85% of puppies die because of parvo.

This disease is contracted by a dog if he comes into contact with the virus. Your dog's exposure to the virus could be indirect, through sniffing the infected dog’s waste or direct contact with the infected dog. This is then the reason why you should be very careful when letting your puppy go around the neighborhood for the first time.

The parvovirus works by attaching itself to your dogs’ intestinal lining. This causes severe discomfort to your dog and would eventually lead to your dog's death if left untreated. This leads us to the idea that every dog owner should know everything about the unexpected costs owning dogs. 

Signs and Symptoms of Parvovirus 

The symptoms of parvo are not quite easy to detect and if left unnoticed, it may trigger severe infections that might reduce the chance of your pup surviving. This is why you need to watch out for early signs and symptoms of parvo in dogs. Usually, when the virus gets into your dog, it incubates for about five to ten days and on the 11th day, symptoms begin to surface which are triggered by the virus. 

Signs and symptoms can be different from one dog to another. However, these are the most common symptoms that you should look out for:

  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Extreme lethargy
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Drastic weight loss
  • Raised heart rate
  • Fever 

Upon observing the manifestations of these symptoms, initial veterinary care is highly suggested. The diagnosis of the disease must be confirmed hence your dog must be taken to the nearest registered veterinary clinic. This might cost you some bucks, but it clearly outweighs the fact that your dog is gravely at risk. 

Puppy Parvo Home Remedies 

The answer to your question, “Will my puppy survive parvo?” is yes if the right measures were done. 

Initially, after the diagnosis has been made, the veterinary clinic is likely to recommend keeping your furry friend at their facility in order for him to receive the initial parvo treatment and 24-hour intensive care. While this is a sound idea, this might cost you additional thousands of dollars. So, rather than keeping your dog hospitalized until treated, you can have the option to bring your dog home after the appointment and save cost, provided that you must observe his condition around the clock. 

Additionally, to ensure your dog's recovery, these home remedies for parvo must be diligently administered to your four-legged patient. 

Hydration 

Dehydration is considered the most common cause of death of dogs with parvo; hence, constant hydration is very important to replace the lost fluids and electrolytes. 

As you have visited your vet for an initial check-up, you might as well ask for points like how often your pet should be hydrated as well as the proper administration of fluids to your dog. 

Nutritional support 

As lots of nutrients are lost together with your pet’s loss of appetite, you should gradually introduce palatable food for your dog to keep going. As your pet stops vomiting, you can introduce wet food that is easy for him to swallow.

Aside from this, to support recovery, you could introduce food supplements for your dog to take together with the medications given by the veterinarian. 

The following supplements should not be considered as an alternative and dropping the vet’s medications would do nothing but harm.

  • Vitamin C – an effective anti-oxidant and promotes a good immune system.
  • Fish oil (Omega 3s) – this helps against the inflammation caused by the virus. You can incorporate 1 capsule per day for two weeks together with your dog’s medications
  • Probiotics – this helps with your dog’s health and bowel movement. This aids in soothing the intestinal tract while restoring bacteria in your dog's tract.
  • Echinacea – an effective anti-inflammatory, echinacea can help boost your dog’s recovery from the virus. 

Homeopathic Remedy

There is a wide variety of homeopathic remedies available in the market. However, you must first consult your veterinarian for the proper dosing and the frequency of administration. 

Follow-up Vet Visit 

As the situation of your dog eventually improves, it is suggested that you bring him back to the clinic for a follow-up check-up. From there, the vet will give the confirmation and will advise further actions that must be made on your part.

Preventive Measures 

The virus is capable of surviving for several years in dog waste, soil, and indoor surroundings. To be considerate to others and prevent other dogs from catching the virus, proper sanitation must be conducted.

It is a great idea to use bleach when cleaning the area where your dog was and sanitize blankets, foams, and linens by using washing machines with high-temperature settings. As you do these things, you effectively eliminate the spread of the virus and help other owners not to deal with the same problem. 

Final Words

Parvo is undeniably a deadly and infectious type of virus that poses a great threat to our canines. Gladly, preventive measures like vaccines are easily accessible. If an unfortunate event comes your way, like your dog acquiring the disease, veterinary assistance is there to keep your pup’s chance of survival high.

Krystal | Sunny Sweet Days
Follow Along
Latest posts by Krystal | Sunny Sweet Days (see all)

Similar Posts