Outpatient protocol offers alternative for parvo treatment.

Outpatient protocol offers alternative for parvo treatment. Canine parvovirus is a serious and often fatal viral illness that most commonly affects puppies, though unvaccinated adult dogs can be infected as well. The cost implication for treatment is high due to hospitalization and intensive care/ monitoring and treatment,this makes many clients shy away from seeking professional help. Today,there is a new protocol developed at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital that may help save parvo puppies and give their families a chance to give their dogs a healthy life. Parvovirus, which is spread through exposure to feces from infected dogs, has the following symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea as the virus primarily impacts the gastrointestinal tract and the circulatory system, where it suppresses the bone marrow and causes the white blood cell count to drop. The veterinary care focuses on supporting the puppy with IV fluids and antibiotics, and close monitoring, but without intensive veterinary intervention parvovirus is almost always fatal due to dehydration and/or a severely compromised immune system. The treatment generally entails a long and expensive hospital stay, with at least five to seven days in intensive care, rehydration through an IV, lots of antibiotics, and medications to control nausea. The new protocol is the use of highly potent antibiotics, fluids and anti nausea medication,with the owner taking the pup to the clinic for the medication.The tender love and care attention will have to be provided by family to ensure the pup is comfortable and recovers fast. more