parvo - Page 1

Heres a question. How long does parvovirus live after the animal that was infected is gone. Someone had a pup that had parvo and now wants to get another.He doesnt know how long he should wait.

I was told one year, but it can be gone as early as 6 months. Very touchy disease, so every caution should be used.

Canine parvovirus lives for a very long time-typical of a virus. From six (6) months to one (1) year is a safe estimate of its lifespan. Any dog, even a vaccinated dog can transmit to the soil it through its feces. If sufficient time has passed and no other dogs have been on the property it may be safe. The puppy should stay indoors until it receives its initial vaccination and followup boosters. And it would be an excellent idea to sterilize any surface on that this puppy can walk with a chlorine bleach solution. I've been lucky and never had it. I am also very careful-especially with young puppies. Bob-O

We have had several serious bouts of Parvo here in Germany and we breeders thus often discuss this issue. Common practise after having had Parvo is to spray the entire area with a desinfectant (or bleach) the sick dogs where on, because we are told by our vets, that the virus can live in the soil for up to 6 years! Sylvia

Wow...6 years! I guess then you should keep dogs vaccinated and keep pups out of the area that has been exposed until they are fully protected. I remember having a 6 month old pup, rott. mixed that someone gave us and the poor thing had parvo and died. What an awful thing to see. The Vet tried to save her.Thats the only time I have ever have seen it. We keep our dogs vaccinated! I did talk to my Vet this morning and he said 6 monthes if they dissenfected well.

Many years ago, when I had American show lines, I had a female puppy contract Parvo. I saved her life, but he never grew up mentally, and she never came in heat. She would continually do the same stupid thing...like walk under my horse when we went riding, get stepped on, walk under the horse, get stepped on.....She was very pretty, and was always brainlessly, bouncy-happy. When she was almost two years old, I gave her away to a woman who really enjoyed her just the way she was. The dog was over ten years old the last I heard of her, and healthy. When I asked after her, they said she was the silliest happiest creature they had ever known, and she had never come in heat. Wierd :)

I am sorry to say that I know of many breeders in the international show scene here in North America that do not vaccinate their dogs or even puppies for anything. (won't say who for obvious reasons) They even present false rabies certificates at the border. They don't vaccinate their puppies and tell new owners that vaccination causes a terrible disease called "vaccinosis." (Of course, it is much more economical for a breeder of many litters a year to adopt such a philosophy.) I am concerned that any new mutation in the known parvo strains could easily spread quickly throughout the GSD world. I have seen on the internet that a particularly virulent strain has been showing up in Australia. I recommend disinfecting kennels, crates and kennel areas with Virkon. It kills viruses, is environmentally safe, safe for the dogs, has a cleaning and detergent effect in the kennels and does not smell like a whore's perfume! The downside is that it is expensive. I use it daily and gladly pay the price.

Does anyone know whether a female that had parvo would be a carrier of parvo for life and pass it on to future litters? Is this a myth or fact?

Michael10, No hard facts here; just a limited knowledge about viruses (and my wife is a doctor). They typically use the host to replicate, the hosts sheds the replicated virus, then it is passed to another host-sometimes killing every host successively. If the host survives there is usually a strong immunity to another attack by the same virus. This is not related, but we also know of at least two (2) types of human viruses for that this behaviour is not true-namely AIDS and various herpes strains. These (at least for now) stay with the host for life and can be transmitted at any time. How many strains of canine parvovirus exist; I don't know. The bitch would certainly have some immunity to the same parvo strain that she had earlier in life. As far as being a carrier, I don't think that would be possible in the true sense of a carrier. But, she, as any other dog or bitch could transmit parvo by contact with the virus and then contact with a non-vaccinated puppy. As could you, me, or any other human. I have read studies that state that many dogs have lived through parvo and survived it on their own. This showed up in blood tests conducted later in life while they were tested for other things. I have no facts, but I would think that for every one (1) of these dogs who survived there was at least one hundred (100) that died. I read a a very sad story a couple of years ago about an AKC-registered champion Doberman who became ill and died at a national AKC event. I don't remember the name of the dog or the event, but I was shocked when I learned that the owner puposely did not vaccinate his dogs for this disease. I personally think that a dog should not be vaccinated to death, but deadly diseases such as parvo, rabies, and distemper can and should be prevented. Another thing about parvo is that it is anaerobic and can be delivered through the air; bypassing any contact with contaminated soil or diseased animals. This is surely the least likely way for it to be transmitted, but it is a fact. Bob-O

Hi Bob-o I just ask my Vet this morning how parvo was tranmitted specifically asked if it was airborne. He said no..It was transmitted through feces or vomit. That it could live in the soil for quite some time after the feces or vomit was long gone. He also said if a bird or other wild animal consumed the contaminated feces or vomit they can then carry the parvo and spred it. Or if a cat was to walk trough it that it can spread that way.Anyone who does not vaccinate their pup against this is taking a big chance. I vaccinate myself and it is oly 3.00 to do it. But even if you have to take your dog to the Vet it's well worth it.