Parvo
By: Nicole Shalit
Parvo is an illness associated with puppies under one year of age. This disease started appearing in 1978. It is postulated that it is a mutation of the feline distemper virus. Since not many dogs developed natural antibodies in the 70’s, most of the dogs who developed this disease died. In some cases, it attacked the heart and caused death in as little as a few hours. Back then there was no vaccine, and the dogs were forced to fight off the disease by themselves. Twenty years later, most dogs encounter parvo either naturally or through vaccines.
Parvo is caused by a highly contagious virus that is picked up mostly by oral contact with infected feces. It can live in its environment for month s, allowing other dogs to be effected by it. It can withstand common household cleaners (except bleach) and is not affected by the cold winter temperature. It can spread by hair and feet of dogs, in addition to shoes, clothes, and eating utensils. Parvo is usually seen in dogs with worms, or other diseases. This is said to be because their immune system is already weakened.
Parvo rapidly divides cells, much like cancer. The cells that are divided by this disease in dogs are the intestines, bone marrow, and the immune system. Today, there are ways to prevent parvo, and to save dogs who get it. Vaccines are usually the answer, however, there is also a medicine that has been proven to work against parvo. This medicine is called Parvogaurd. When dogs get parvo, they don’t eat, which makes them loose a lot of weight. I have found that bottle feeding with a bottle of liquid meals, and giving the dog doses of Parvogaurd, is very effective. We were told by the vet that our dog would die if we didn’t leave her at the hospital and pay outrageous fees for overnight care and vaccines, she would die. After spending the night researching it over the internet, we found Parvogaurd. After a few days of bottle feeding and Parvogaurd she began eating on her own, and gaining her lost weight back. She is living proof Parvoguard works.
