Parvovirus or parvo for short is an extremely infectious and unpleasant disease that dog owners should be aware of.
1. Parvo is life threatening to dogs and it devastated the US dog population in the 1970's when it first appeared there
2. Parvo attacks a dog's intestines and is often deadly if left untreated
3. Parvo symptoms include vomiting, foul smelling diarrhea, extreme lethargy, loss of appetite and suffering dogs may feel very hot or sometimes cold to touch
4. Parvo is everywhere and more common in areas with a lot of dogs
5. Parvo is extremely hardy and even disinfectant doesn't work well against the virus
6. Certain breeds are more susceptible to parvo. Larger breeds are especially over-represented.
7. According to experts, every dog will be exposed to parvo at some time, fortunately humans cannot contract parvo from dogs
8. Symptoms in the early stage of infection are sometimes very difficult to recognize
9. Parvo can contaminate a dog's bedding, lead, bowl, toys and kennel
10. Parvo is preventable and vaccination (including boosters) is highly recommended
Ask your veterinarian about vaccination and booster schedules and help protect your dog