If you are concerned about how to cure parvo in dogs, you have every right to be. Parvo is a very serious dog disease caused by a virus, rabies being the most common. Although it is highly contagious, it rarely affects healthy humans or animals.
The most obvious symptom of parvo in dogs is death from complications of severe diarrhea and vomiting. The virus attacks the intestinal wall causing severe dehydration and eventually death. In the early stages, it causes only mild dehydration and mild liver failure. It is not until the third week of the incubation period that serious complications develop, including death. Rabies can be contracted even after the disease has been cured.
Parvo has a life cycle, which can last up to ten days. At the beginning, there are no noticeable symptoms. However, it begins to attack the dogs’ intestines causing severe dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea. After this first stage, there will be a gradual increase in the severity of the symptoms.
One of the symptoms of canine parvo is the presence of blood in the stool or vomit. It is possible for the infected dog to survive for a few more days if treatment is started on the day that the first symptoms appear. This treatment usually involves a lot of fluids, including water and a combination of pills and liquids. On the seventh day after the onset of the disease, there will be a buildup of contaminated feces within the gastrointestinal tract.
On the eighth day, there will be an increase in the vomiting and diarrhea as well as increased urination and defecation. On the ninth day, the symptoms will become more pronounced as diarrhea increases and the dog becomes more dehydrated. On the tenth day, the veterinarian will perform a colonoscopy. The colonoscopy is designed to determine whether or not the dog has contracted parvo, but it also helps to diagnose it more accurately.
Once the vet has diagnosed parvo, he will recommend that the dog be given antibiotics in order to fight off the bacteria and allow the dog’s immune system to recover. In many cases, treatment will not be required; however, if the symptoms do not subside after seven days, the veterinarian may recommend a secondary infection treatment. If parvo has been allowed to remain in the dog’s body, the dog will have a greater risk of contracting secondary infections, such as bacteria from another pet, as well as a serious condition known as leptospirosis.
If your dog contracts parvo, you should consider making home care arrangements. The longer the dog remains hospitalized, the greater the chances that it will die. A lot of home health care is available, including oxygen therapy and artificial diets. However, even with the best care, the chances of survival are low. Because parvo can cause death within 24 hours of infection, it is very important that the dog receive prompt medical care.
The conventional treatment of parvo uses antibiotics to treat the symptoms. These drugs kill off all bacteria in the dog’s intestinal tract, including the microorganisms that help maintain the proper balance of microorganisms in the intestine. While this approach prevents parvo-causing bacteria from returning, it does not address the problem of why the bacteria first became resistant to the antibiotic. This is why some dogs continue to suffer from intestinal problems even after they have been treated with an antibiotic.
Homeopathic remedies take an opposite approach. They stimulate the immune system so that it can respond to infections in a different way. Once the body is aware of the damage that microorganisms can do to the intestines, it will aim to restore the intestinal environment to one that is easily digestible. In this way, the intestines are protected and the dog experiences no further symptoms.
Both systemic and local antigens are used in treating feline parvo. Systemic antigens are injected into the cat’s bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the antibodies will start fighting the microorganisms in the intestines. Localized antigens are given to the affected area of the cat’s body. When the infected dog attacks, it injects a very small amount of antigens into the digestive tract in order to stimulate the immune system to fight the infection.
Feline infections can be extremely serious. If you have an infected dog, make sure that you take him to the vet right away for proper treatment. Consulting your vet is especially important if the symptoms last for more than two days or if the dog exhibits aggressive behavior. Even if you think your dog is only having a mild case of feline parvo, do not hesitate to see a vet for emergency treatment.