Research Paper on Parvo For my service learning project, I went to the ARK (Animal Rescue Kleberg). When I went, I cleaned the animals cages/litter boxes. Walking around the dog kennels, I realized a good number of them had Parvo, also known as Canine Parvovirus. I chose to write about parvo because that’s one of the infections that I have seen firsthand with some of my dogs growing up. Canine Parvovirus is thought to be a mutation from the feline Parvovirus, also known as Feline Distemper virus. The virus first appeared clinically in 1978, which caused a widespread epidemic to dogs of all ages due to them being exposed to it for the first time. Later on, a vaccine was created. Now, Parvo is very rare. Parvo has many clinical signs, diarrhea and lethargy being …show more content…
Some viruses die quickly when outside of animal and exposed to air. Others are deactivated easily by common cleaning agents. Not Parvo. This virus may last months or even years in the environment if the conditions are “right” - cool, moist, shady with lots of organic or fecal material to hide in. Parvo is also considered to be ubiquitous - it is everywhere. Dogs shed Parvo primarily via feces (vomit may contain the virus, too) and they may shed the virus 2-3 weeks’ post-infection. The Parvo incubation period is 3-7 days, sometimes longer. This is important because, during the incubation period, your dog may act and appear normal. Vet visits and pre-purchase exams may reveal no signs of pending illness only to have Parvo appear in a few days. Keeping your puppy isolated (for the pup’s sake and the safety of other dogs) and in a “safe” environment is essential, as is keeping on track with vaccinations. In conclusion, Parvo happens. It happens every day. Some animals survive, and sadly, some don’t. Being aware of the risk factors and clinical signs will help alert people to seek veterinary care sooner, rather than