| Canine Parvovirus (dhlp-"P") |
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- The final part of the DHLP-P combination is a vaccine
for Canine Parvovirus.
- Parvo is a relatively recent disease. Its first reported
cases occurred in 1978 and proceeded to lay waste to large
numbers of the canine population.
- Parvo is a highly contagious viral disease that can be
spread in a number of ways. Contact with the feces or vomit of
an infected dog is the source of the infection but tracing it
back to the contagious dog can be extremely hard to do.
- A puppy can come into an environment in which a contagious
dog was in up to six months previously. Strays can spread it by
sniffing with another dog through the fence. In 1978, humans
were and still are one of the main carriers of the disease. Dog
breeders at that time were often wiped out as entire litters as
well as their adult dogs became infected with the disease as
would be buyers would go to several different sites looking for
a puppy. These buyers would come into contact with an infected
dog and carry the disease to each stopping place along the way
on their hands, clothes or even shoes.
- Today, parvovirus normally attacks a younger dog’s rapidly
reproducing cells in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, heart and
gastrointestinal tract. With infection, the disease will often
take one of two forms: the diarrheal and the cardiac form.
- The diarrheal or “enteric” parvovirus comes with a sudden
onset, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite
as well as an increase in temperature. Puppies not treated for
the disease will often dehydrate and die quickly. The estimated
mortality rate for untreated puppies is approximately 80-85%.
This rate is slightly higher in Rottweillers and Dobermans due
to a prevalence of the blood clotting dysfunction called “Von
Willebraun’s disease.”
- When parvovirus takes its cardiac or myocardial form, it can
cause congestive heart failure even in those puppies that
survive the disease. Congestive heart failure in itself will
cause the premature death of the puppy.
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A veterinarian who suspects parvovirus may run a series
of different tests to prove the infection. One of the oldest
and most reliable tests is to simply do a white cell count.
A marked decrease in these cells is a good sign of
parvovirus being present. There are also tests that can be
run on a small stool sample, which most veterinarians can
run in office with results given within ten to fifteen
minutes.
If the test shows positive for the disease, the
owner then has to decide on a course of action. The
preferred course is an extended hospital stay, IV fluids
given through out the day, medications given to slow the
gastrointestinal tract and antibiotics to prevent secondary
infections. The cost of these treatments is high and only
the owner can decide if they can afford to proceed and it
must be remembered that even with the best of veterinary
care, there is no guarantee that the dog will survive.
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- Those puppies that have had one or two in the recommended
schedule of vaccines will often have an advantage over those
without in actual chances of recovery.
- The build up an immunity against parvo and all the other
diseases, veterinarians recommended vaccination schedule is a
loading dose at six weeks, a follow up four weeks later and
another given four weeks after that. Six months after the last
DHLP-P is given, a follow up parvo vaccination is given and then
the vaccines go to an annual injection that is usually given
with the law required Rabies shot.
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The vaccines are fairly inexpensive and can be
gotten not only through a veterinarian but also through feed and
even some drug stores. They are injected under the skin with few
puppies having reactions.
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All puppies and dogs deserve the basic
preventative care necessary to keep them safe from communicable
diseases and with the variety of available options open to the
owner, there is no reason for the pet’s neglect.
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| Please do not use our website to attempt to diagnose or treat your pet. The consultation with your veterinarian is the best source of health advice for your individual pet. You should not rely, on the veterinary advice or any other information provided on this site for the diagnosis or treatment of any specific condition. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or general treatment of your pet. Günbil German shepherd dogs, worldclassgsd.com and or Günbil German shepherds, accepts no liability related to the veterinary advice and
information provided on this site regarding health matters. |
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| We believe in our German shepherd PUPPIES breeding program, you should too! |
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