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Executive Summary
Intestinal and cardiac canine parvovirus (CPV) infection was discovered in 1978. As a
highly contagious viral illness, symptoms range from fever, hypothermia, vomiting, bloody
diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy and lack of appetite to redness of eyes, wet mouth tissues, a
rapidly beating heart and difficulty breathing. The CPV infection can not only be caused by a
genetic alteration of the canine parvovirus type 2b, but can also be contracted by having direct
contact with a CPV infected canine’s stool. Since CPV infection is a viral illness it can be
diagnosed through a physical examination, biochemical test, urine analysis, abdominal
radiographs, abdominal ultrasounds or a chemical blood profile. As there is no cure for CPV
infection, treatment focuses on curing and preventing symptoms and bacterial infections from
arising.
Since the CPV infection is highly contagious and has a lengthy lifetime, the Cedar Bend
Humane Society (CBHS) must take preventative measures to eliminate the risk of a CPV
infection outbreak. In doing so, the CBHS must quarantine all infected animals, disinfect their
entire facility and implement numerous sanitizing measures. The CBHS must also provide
education to all personnel, as well as provide proper vaccination for their canines.
Canine Parvovirus
Canine parvovirus (CPV) infection, discovered in 1978, can occur in two different forms:
intestinal and cardiac. CPV infection affects canines as a highly contagious viral illness.
Symptoms of the intestinal form are fever, hypothermia, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weight loss,
lethargy and lack of appetite or anorexia. The intestinal form of CPV infection affects a canine’s
ability to absorb nutrients, resulting in dehydration and weakness because the canine’s ability to
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absorb fluids and protein is inhibited. Other symptoms of intestinal CPV infection include
redness of the eyes and wet mouth tissues, as well as a rapidly beating heart.
Although cardiac CPV infection is less common, it leads to death of young puppies, less
than three months of age, by attacking their heart muscles. A puppy infected with cardiac CPV
infection may have been infected by their mother in utero, if she had not been properly
vaccinated for the disease. This rare form of CPV has little to no symptoms, as a puppy usually
dies within several days after contracting cardiac CPV infection. These young puppies generally
stop nursing, cry out and have difficulty breathing. If puppies are able to recover from the
cardiac CPV infection they may develop a chronic form of congestive heart failure which leads
to death within weeks or months.
Figure 1: Placement of Intestinal and Cardiac CPV
Causes
CPV infection is most often caused by a genetic alteration of the canine parvovirus type
2b. However, CPV infection can also be contracted by direct contact with a CPV infected canine
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or fecal-oral. For example, the virus is found in heavy concentrations in the canine’s stool so
when a healthy canine sniffs a CPV infected canine’s stool it will become infected with CPV.
Another common way of contracting the disease is coming in contact with shoes that have
touched another canines infected stool. Improper vaccination of any disease or drug therapy that
weakens the immune system may also result in the CPV infection.
Canine breeds such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinchers, Pit Bulls, Labrador Retrievers,
German Shepherds, English Springer Spaniels and Alaskan Sled Canines are more susceptible to
the CPV infection than other canines for unknown reasons.
Diagnosis
The CPV infection is diagnosed through a physical examination, biochemical tests, urine
analysis, abdominal radiographs and abdominal ultrasounds. With a canine seeing symptoms
such as bloody diarrhea, a chemical blood profile and a complete blood cell count will be
performed because low white blood cell levels also indicate a canine infected with CPV
infection.
Treatment
Since CPV infection is a viral infection there is no cure for it, therefore treatment is
focused on curing the symptoms and preventing more bacterial infections from arising.
Treatments may also include providing supportive care through antibiotics, fluids, deworming
and controlling vomiting and diarrhea.
CPV infection is a problem not only for the CBHS, but worldwide because it is a highly
contagious virus spreading from canine to canine by direct or indirect contact with infected stool.
The CPV infection also has a lengthy lifetime as it is resistant to heat, cold, humidity, drying and
freezing temperatures. Deaths also occur within 48 to 72 hours after symptoms of the CPV
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infections begin to appear, although most deaths are not the result of CPV infection itself, but are
caused by severe dehydration or a secondary virus.
Shelters, such as the CBHS, rarely have the resources to provide proper treatment nor do
they have the resources to keep an infected canine in isolation. Therefore, the CBHS should
quarantine all exposed animals for up to two weeks, isolate all infected animals immediately and
clean and disinfect the entire facility with household bleach. Other methods the CBHS could
implement to eliminate the risk of a CPV outbreak in there shelter include: implementing hand
sanitizers, using shoe covers, avoiding using mops and avoiding using common drain troughs.
Staff, volunteers and visitors of the CBHS should also be aware of the dangers of the CPV
infection. The CBHS should also deworm animals routinely, provide animals with a balanced
diet, separate puppies by litter and age groups, use disposable items, reduce stress on the animals
and provide proper vaccination to eliminate the risk of a CPV outbreak.
Vaccination
Although many people believe they are not able to afford vaccinations for their animals
or vaccinations are not important, the most effective way to prevent a canine from contracting
the CPV infection is through proper vaccinations from the time the canine is born. Vaccinations
should begin at six weeks of age, with follow up vaccinations at nine weeks, 12 weeks, 15
weeks, six months and one year. Adult canines should receive additional vaccines every three
years. Even though vaccinating your canine is the most effective way to prevent a canine from
contracting the CPV infection, canines are still able to contract the CPV infection.
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Figure 2: Vaccination Schedule
Call to Action
By properly vaccinating animals, quarantining all infected animals and disinfecting their
entire facility after a CPV infection the CBHS will be able to prevent a CPV infection outbreak.
The CBHS also could eliminate the risk of a CPV infection outbreak by implementing hand
sanitizers, using shoe covers, avoiding using mops and using common drain troughs. Along with
these precautions, as staff, volunteers and visitors become aware of the dangers of the CPV
infection the CBHS will be able to eliminate a CPV infection outbreak in their shelter, as well as
improve the health and well-being of their animals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the CPV infection is a highly contagious viral illness occurring as an
intestinal or cardiac infection. CPV infection is caused by genetic alteration of the canine
parvovirus type 2b, directly and indirectly by coming in contact with an infected canine’s stool.
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After diagnosis of the CPV infection, treatment of the infected canine is focused on curing the
symptoms and preventing more bacterial infections from arising. However, by taking extra
precautions by providing proper treatment and vaccinations for canines the CBHS will be able to
prevent a CPV infection outbreak.