Detecting early parvo symptoms is important. This highly-contagious viral disease is potentially deadly if not treated immediately. It is vital to be aware of the top symptoms of this viral infection, so you can provide the necessary treatments early.
7 Parvo Symptoms To Watch Out For
1. Bloody Diarrhea
Viral infections often lead to diarrhea because of the body’s immune response. As a result, the lining of the intestines become inflamed and damaged. Often the dog’s stool contains blood, which means the blood vessels of the intestines are affected. This is one of the most alarming parvo symptoms, because it may lead to dehydration.
2. Loss Of Appetite
You may immediately notice something is wrong with your puppy when he becomes weak and does not want to eat. This is one of the first parvo symptoms you might see in your dog. During an active infection, the immune system of the dog’s body may respond to the pathogen. As a result of this response, the dog might have low energy levels, fever, and loss of appetite.
3. Nausea & Vomiting
Most dogs that are infected by the parvovirus vomit. At first, when the dog is able to eat, the vomitus may still contain food particles. However, as the disease progresses, and the vomiting becomes worse, your dog might vomit gastric juices, bile, and blood. Vomiting may lead to dehydration, so if your dog has persistent vomiting, it is better to seek the help of a veterinarian rather than wait.
4. Weakness Or Lethargy
The weakness or lethargy in dogs with parvo is because of either lack of appetite or dehydration. When the body does not get adequate nutrition from food, the different cells of the body do not receive the needed fuel and energy to function. Moreover, dehydration is a serious complication of parvo and lethargy may set in because of this.
5. Fever
When there is an active infection in the body, the immune system makes sure to kill these pathogens. This response is responsible for inflammation and fever. An increased temperature is a sign that the body’s immune system is doing its job in getting rid of the infection.
6. Sluggishness
One of the parvo symptoms commonly observed in infected dogs is sluggishness. Your once active and energetic dog will become weak, sluggish, and depressed.
7. Severe And Rapid Weight Loss
Serious and rapid weight loss is one of the most common parvo symptoms among dogs. You might observe that your dog loses weight dramatically during the disease process. This is because of the dehydration and anorexia the dog is experiencing.
Know how to take care of your dog when he has parvo in this video by NBC 24 WNWO:
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Early detection of the disease is vital for a positive and good prognosis. When you can detect the viral infection through these parvo symptoms early, the proper treatment can be implemented promptly, avoiding potentially fatal complications.
Do you know the signs of an infection in dogs? Please let us know in the comment section below!
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