Dr Puna Kaurivi Kazapua
Welcome to another informative edition of your Talk to the Vet weekly column, where we share and discuss all things around animal healthcare and various general farming precautions with you, the farmers, and esteemed readers.
Today, we are going to discuss the Canine Parvoviral Enteritis disease, which is commonly known as “Katgriep”.
It is caused by a virus called Canine Parvovirus Type 2, and dogs and other fur animals are highly vulnerable to it.
It is a highly contagious virus that attacks rapidly by dividing cells in dogs’ bodies, with the most common symptoms being vomiting and bloody diarrhoea.
The virus can affect all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and young puppies, especially those less than six months, are most susceptible.
The Canine Parvovirus Type 2 virus is extremely resistant to pH and temperature changes, as well as most disinfectants.
It can remain active in the environment for more than one year.
In most cases, transmission occurs fecal-orally, which means the virus will be present in the faeces of dogs after infection, and this may be before the development of clinical signs.
Canine Parvovirus is endemic in many environments, but the risk of infection is most likely from virus particles shed by other domestic dogs.
The virus replicates mostly in the GIT cells and bone marrow by rapidly dividing cells.
It enters the cells, hijacking the cells’ metabolism and causing dogs to have poor appetite, and eventually become sick.
That process leads to severe intestinal damage with blunting of the villi, loss of intestinal absorption, loss of intestinal barrier function, gastrointestinal bleeding and dehydration, potentially leading to hypovolemic shock and sepsis. In addition to the gastrointestinal effects, the viral attack on the bone marrow leads to the destruction of young immune cells.
This decreases the body’s defence against secondary infections, and can lead to sepsis.
Within three days of infection, dogs can shed the virus in their faeces, with peak shedding occurring between four to seven days post-infection.
Infected dogs produce vast numbers of viruses that are highly-resistant to environmental decontamination, and can remain viable for more than a year.
Puppies receive maternal antibodies with colostrum from their mother. Thus, it is very important to vaccinate the mother.
As the puppies get older, those maternal antibodies decline, and the risk of infection can increase if those antibodies decline below the protective level.
The puppies’ antibodies start to rise after the vaccination protocol has begun, but there is a potential danger zone after the maternal antibodies have declined before vaccination has had time to be protective.
Other causes of Canine Parvovirus Type 2 outbreaks include non-vaccinated dogs, incomplete vaccination series, immune suppression, and genetic non-responders.
Treatment of sick dogs should begin immediately on diagnosis, and consist primarily of fluid therapy and supportive care to combat dehydration by replacing electrolyte, protein and fluid losses.
Antibiotics for opportunistic secondary bacterial infections, and antiemetics to control vomiting and diarrhoea should also be administered.
Dogs which recover from the disease, or those twhich are protected through vaccination, have an immune response that produces antibodies that bind and inactivate the virus, so the risk of fatalities is drastically reduced in cases of reinfection.
Signs to look out for in your dog if you suspect Canine Parvovirus infection are lethargy, inappetence, vomiting and diarrhoea, especially with the distinctive, foul, metallic “parvo smell” (whilst not diagnostic, it is often suggestive of CPV-2 infection). Canine Parvovirus is best prevented through vaccination.
Dogs suspected to be infected with the virus must be isolated to prevent the spread of the virus to other animals, and environmental disinfection is of high importance.
Please get your puppies and their mothers vaccinated.
*For enquiries or suggestions on any topic that you would want covered, please reach out at punamuza22@gmail.com or WhatsApp me at +264 81 723 4553.