Parvovirus in dogs
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that can be fatal to dogs. Puppies aged six weeks to six months and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk.
Parvovirus (also known as canine parvovirus, CPV or parvo) is a very infectious disease that can be fatal. It's also common in the UK.
The virus attacks cells in a dog’s intestines and stops them from being able to absorb vital nutrients. This means that a dog or puppy will become very weak and dehydrated.
Sadly, many dogs who are diagnosed with parvo will die, so vaccinating your dog is vital.
How do you know if your dog has parvovirus?
Symptoms of parvovirus include:
- foul-smelling diarrhoea with blood in it
- loss of appetite
- sudden death
Who is at risk of parvovirus?
Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk from becoming victims of parvo.
Puppies go downhill very quickly because the symptoms caused by parvovirus make them very weak, and mean their immune systems have to work very hard to fight the disease. Youngsters between six weeks and six months old are also more susceptible to secondary infections, or they may die from dehydration.
Parvo outbreaks are most commonly seen in towns and cities with a large population of unvaccinated dogs.
What should I do if I think my dog has parvo?
If you recognise the symptoms of parvo in your own dog, call your vet immediately. Tell them what symptoms your dog or puppy has, and whether or not they’ve come into contact with a dog with confirmed parvovirus.
Keep your dog away from other dogs as it spreads easily.
The quicker treatment is given, the better the chances of survival.
Is parvovirus contagious to other dogs?
Yes. Parvo is highly contagious to other dogs and spreads very easily around dogs and puppies that are not up to date with their vaccinations.
Parvovirus spreads through body fluids, including in a dog’s poo and vomit. It can also survive in the environment outside the body – for example in the grass at a park – for at least six months, and possibly much longer. Your dog can even contract parvo by sniffing another dog’s poo and it’s not uncommon for dogs to catch parvo when out for a walk.
If your dog has come into contact with bedding, food and water bowls, carpet, or a kennel that a dog with parvovirus has touched, they can catch the virus. Parvo can also be spread on shoes, clothing and human hands.
It takes up to seven days for a dog to show signs of having parvovirus after they have caught it.
How can I prevent my dog catching this disease?
Parvo can be deadly, so it's important for dogs and puppies to be vaccinated against parvovirus from the age of six weeks.
How often do dogs need their parvovirus vaccinations?
Puppies need a course of vaccines to protect them against parvovirus:
- The first vaccine is usually given when the puppy is between six and 10 weeks of age
- A second vaccine is usually given two to four weeks later
- In some breeds such as Rottweilers or dobermans, a third vaccine when the puppy is older than 16 weeks old is also advised
- A further booster vaccination must also be given a year later
After this, adult dogs need booster vaccinations throughout their lifetime. The time between boosters can vary depending on the brand of vaccine given, so check with your vet about how often our dog needs to receive a booster.
Your dog should be given a vaccination card with the date of the jab and the date the next shot is due. This will be signed by your vet or registered veterinary nurse (RVN).
Treatment for parvovirus
Sadly, drugs that kill the virus do not exist. Instead your vet will treat your dog so that their immune system and body has the best change of fighting the disease.
Treatment for parvo might include:
- hospitalisation so that the vet can monitor your dog (the average hospital stay for a dog recovering from parvo is five to seven days)
- intravenous fluids through a drip to stop your dog from becoming dehydrated
- drugs to help control vomiting which also helps to prevent dehydration
If a dog with parvo has caught a secondary infection as a result of a weakened immune system, they may be given antibiotics.
Dogs and puppies with parvo must be put in isolation and kept well away from other animals. Vets and nurses will wear special clothes and shoes when treating them which can be removed and sanitised to prevent the disease spreading to other patients at the veterinary surgery or hospital.
The prognosis for dogs with parvovirus
The chances of your dog surviving are higher the quicker symptoms are spotted and treatment is given. Sadly, some dogs and many puppies often die, even if treatment is given.
Most deaths from parvo happen within 48 to 72 hours after the symptoms begin.
Treatment for parvo is very expensive because your dog will often need several days’ stay in intensive care. We strongly recommend vaccinating your dog to prevent them getting parvo.
If your dog is lucky enough to pull through and come home, they will need a period of recovery including lots of TLC. Your vet will tell you how best to care for your dog.
Even after they've recovered they may still be infectious, so it's important to speak to your vet and keep your dog away from other dogs and public places for the recommended period.
Parvovirus in humans
Humans cannot get parvovirus from their dogs, however they can pass parvo from one dog to another on their clothes, shoes or hands.
Humans can contract a human version of parvovirus, but this is a different strain from the one that affects dogs. Humans cannot pass the human type of parvo to a dog either.
• 28 April 2023
• 27 April 2026