Symptoms of parvovirus enteritis in dogs and cats. Treatment of the disease

You have a puppy at home. Of course, this is a joyful event, but you must remember that it is also a huge responsibility. First of all, you are obliged to monitor the health of your pet and try to protect it from the most serious diseases, in particular from parvovirus enteritis. Today we will tell you in detail about this ailment, which until recently denoted the almost death sentence. Now the situation has changed, modern vaccines represent quite reliable protection against this formidable disease, and veterinary drugs can cure it at almost any stage.

The most important thing is not to allow the animal's body to be very dehydrated, because otherwise the chances of recovery will drop dramatically. So the faster you bring the pet to the clinic, the easier it will be to treat parvovirus enteritis.

What is it

Indeed, to start better from the beginning. So let's start with the definition of parvovirus enteritis. This is an acute viral disease that causes inflammation and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, as well as damage to the heart muscle. Most often, young people are affected by this disease between the ages of 2 months and up to two years. In this case, a person can not get sick. Outbreaks of this virus are most often in spring and autumn.

Causes and development of the disease

Even without being a veterinarian, you easily distinguish the signs of parvoviral enteritis. In the vast majority of cases, the disease affects the dog at the age of up to 6 months. The causative agent is a virus. When the DNA containing the virus enters the body, it begins to actively multiply in the epithelial cells of the intestine. This leads to their mass death. The immunity of the animal is completely blocked, and the products of necrosis begin to be absorbed into the blood. In response, the body tries to protect itself and includes the mechanism of blood clotting. This leads to microthrombi and impairs the circulation of blood in vital organs. These are the kidneys and liver, the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract. After the coagulation mechanisms are exhausted, bleeding of the intestinal mucosa is observed.

But all this is not the worst. Parvovirus enteritis in puppies occurs with complete failure of water. Usually, on the 2nd-3rd day, signs of hypovolemic shock develop, acute renal failure develops. In turn, the defeat of the cardiac muscle very quickly leads to pulmonary edema and heart failure. So, in a few days the disease destroys all organs and systems and kills the animal.

Sources of the disease

Treatment of parvovirus enteritis will be effective only when we know exactly where the trouble lies and how to avoid it as effectively as possible. So, the source of infection is sick dogs. These are virus carriers, which emit a huge amount of virus into the external environment. This is feces, urine and saliva. Rodents, insects and even people who do not get sick themselves are still carriers. Infection can occur through infected feed and water, by contact with a sick animal (sniffing and licking himself, or infected objects). Possible infection through litter or care items, especially you need to consider that the causative agent is very tenacious and remains in the environment for a long time. It is resistant to heating and the effects of ether and chlorine, alcohol and soda. Therefore, driving the puppies to a vaccine in a veterinary clinic is not the best option. Usually, the tables are disinfected with alcohol, and this does not have any effect on the causative agent. As you can see, there are a lot of dangers around, and you need to learn to foresee them all in order to prevent this terrible disease.

Prevention or risk area

Any disease is much easier to prevent than treat, but especially it concerns such a formidable disease as parvovirus enteritis. Prevention, in the first place, is aimed at increasing the resistance of the pet itself, that is, resistance to bacteria and viruses. If this natural barrier is strong, then you can not be afraid. In order to increase resistance, it is necessary to take good care of your pet. Good conditions of maintenance and quality feeding, timely prevention of helminthic invasions, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and avoidance of stressful situations - this is half the case in protecting your pet from enteritis. Why half, because the second is for preventive vaccinations. In today's world it is unwise to reject the achievements of science in the form of reliable vaccines and hope for the case. Be sure to perform all the planned vaccinations, which you will appoint a veterinarian.

Signs that you should immediately pay attention to

Today we are talking about parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms, treatment and prevention are information that the owners need to respond in time to alarming changes. First of all, remember that the disease is developing rapidly. From the very first symptom to the death of an animal, it can take only 3-4 days. The maximum, how many an animal can stretch without treatment is 7 days. In the beginning, vomiting occurs. It is impossible to stop, forcibly forcing a pet to drink or eat, you will only make it worse. It is necessary to remove intoxication by intravenous infusion of special solutions.

Sometimes already in the first stage there is diarrhea of gray-yellow color. Puppy completely refuses water and food. At the same time, the condition deteriorates very quickly. Even if the first symptoms appeared in the evening, it is necessary to try to take the animal to the veterinarian. Until the morning, excruciating vomiting can bring the state to critical. As a last resort, call the nearest veterinary station and tell them about what's going on. Every doctor knows how serious a disease is parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms, treatment for today - by collecting all this information, the doctor will be able to orient you in what to help a four-footed friend.

The situation is aggravated

So, if the treatment has not been started, or is unsuccessful, vomiting will continue. Stools become fetid. Very often in the fecal masses, blood appears, sometimes worms come out. Dense saliva accumulates in the mouth, the animal has no strength to swallow it. Eyeballs sink, noises are heard in the heart, and wheezing in the lungs. In this case, pronounced tachycardia is a very bad symptom, which means that the cardiovascular system is hit too hard, and the forecasts are disappointing. If the body temperature was initially elevated, it now drops to 35 degrees and below. The abdomen is usually tense and painful. Develops shortness of breath. Mucous membranes lose their luster, become gray or reddish. Even with the right, intensive, but late-started therapy, mortality is very high, so it is extremely important to organize treatment as quickly as possible.

Clinical signs

The worst thing is when parvovirus enteritis develops in puppies. How to treat a young and fragile organism when the virus destroys the heart and liver, kidneys and the immune system. It is enough to delay the onset of intensive care for only a few hours, and even on condition of recovery, the dog will remain a constant client of the veterinarian for life, as this will cause a huge number of chronic diseases. The incubation period is only 4-10 days, while the virus begins to excrete the external environment on the third day, when the symptomatology may be completely absent. Pass these discharges for 15-20 days, subject to survival. This disease manifests itself in three forms, each of which can proceed with lightning or sharpness. If in the second case it is possible to save the pet, then in the first you may not have time even to see a doctor.

Intestinal form of the disease

It is the manifestations of this form that is most famous for parvoviral enteritis. Prevention is to maintain the intestines of the dog in perfect condition, then the immunity will be strong, and the virus is much more difficult to break through its protection. First of all, this is a qualitative, rational diet and timely antihelminthic therapy. In this case, the acute form proceeds practically without signs of enteritis, the puppy shows a decline in strength and dies after a few hours. Mortality is very high, it is about 60%.

In this case, anorexia is observed, a complete refusal of food. Very strong, mucous vomiting develops. 6 hours after its onset, the dog develops diarrhea. At the same time, the feces are gray at first, and then they acquire green or violet shades. Very often they contain blood strips, sometimes they are mucous or watery, almost always with fetid odor. Body temperature at this stage is often elevated. In this case, vomiting and diarrhea exhaust forces very quickly, after which a shock condition occurs. This is most often parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms can only be a day ahead of the onset of death, if you can not stop the loss of fluid.

Treatment of intestinal enteritis

First of all, it is necessary to provide the animal with complete peace, because the forces will be required to overcome parvoviral enteritis. How to treat, it is necessary to agree with the veterinarian. Food and drink are completely canceled until the doctor resolves it, a forced infusion will only aggravate the situation. It is highly recommended to use Vaseline oil, which envelops the walls of the stomach and intestines and interferes with the absorption of the products of necrosis.

In order to provide first aid, you should have "Levomycetin succinate" in your medicine cabinet. It is an antibiotic that is aimed at treating diarrhea. You will also need "No-shpa" and "Analgin" to relieve pain symptoms. In addition, "No-shpa" relieves spasms, and therefore, reduced vomiting. "Analginum" together with "Dimedrolum" (two ampoules are typed in one syringe and injected intramuscularly) perfectly knocks down the temperature. In severe and protracted disease it is necessary to have saline and glucose at home, which can be administered at least subcutaneously, in order to avoid dehydration.

Cardiac form of enteritis

It occurs much less often, most often as a secondary complication. After the transferred enteritis after a while, acute myocardial damage is observed. That is, we can diagnose heart failure with a weak pulse and pulmonary edema. Most often, animals die suddenly due to disturbances in the cardiac muscle of nervous patency. Mortality is very high, reaching 80%. It is very important to include in the treatment scheme "Sulfocamphocaine", "Cordiamin", or other drugs to maintain cardiac activity. Finally, there is a mixed form, when there are various lesions of the cardiovascular and digestive, respiratory system of the body. This is typical for weakened animals with a weakened immune system. In this case, the clinical picture can be blurred, and the symptomatology is very diverse.

Treatment of dogs

The earlier you go to the doctor, the more likely you are to defeat parvovirus enteritis. Symptoms will rapidly increase, so postpone all cases and soon to a specialist. It should be noted that the treatment of this disease is becoming more complicated. The virus mutates and adapts, and doctors invent all new schemes. The treatment is symptomatic, therefore for each patient the veterinarian will propose his scheme. Most often it includes sulfonamides, antibiotics, novocain blockade, cardiac drugs, as well as saline and glucose. However, the fact that a growing number of drugs produced specifically for animals, it does not become easier to defeat parvoviral enteritis in puppies. How to treat an animal, sometimes you have to decide on the go, watching the reaction of the body.

The classical treatment regimen necessarily includes polyvalent serum, that is, globulins against enteritis. In fact, this is a fraction of the blood serum of an animal that has been vaccinated with a special vaccine, in response to which the body has developed antibodies. They help the sick animal overcome the disease. In addition to globulins, saline and antibiotics ("Ampicillin" and "Oxycillin") are always used. It is equally important to block vomiting, for this use "Tserukal". Each doctor must prescribe "Dimedrol", an antihistamine, which is an excellent antispasmodic and analgesic. Additionally use "Sulfocamphocaine" for stimulation of cardiac activity and vitamins.

Parvovirus enteritis in cats

Clinical symptoms are very similar to those that we have already listed. This is vomiting and diarrhea, depression, fever and fever. However, a high mortality rate only in the case of a hyperacute course of the disease, which is not so common. The acute course of the disease is characterized by anorexia, damage to the intestinal mucosa and rapid growth of bacteria. The probability of a fatal outcome is 25 to 90%. Subacute and subclinical forms occur much more often, but the cats recover even without interference from the side. Specific treatment is not, the doctor can prescribe only maintenance therapy.

From dog to person or vice versa

In fact, you should not be afraid of this disease. Parvovirus enteritis in humans is not found, and therefore, calmly take care of your sick pet. But you yourself can become a source of danger for your pet. The virus can come home with your clothes and shoes, toys, various things from the veterinary clinic. Note that they bring a variety of animals there and, simply by going after vitamins or anthelmintic preparations, you can bring home dangerous pathogens. Their persistence is truly incredible. They are not taken either by cold or boiling water, chlorine and alcohol are powerless. In land and biological waste, it remains for several years.

The fact that parvovirus enteritis in dogs is transmitted to a person is a fairy tale, but treating the treatment must be taken very seriously. If your pet does not survive, do not rush to replace it with another. The causative agents of the virus can survive in the most secluded corners of the booth or litter, on hedges that love to bite young animals, and just on the ground. Therefore, if you live in a private house, you will not be able to disinfect everything. Therefore, it is necessary to wait two or three years, and then buy a new dog, necessarily from the vaccinated bitch.