Pets Australia — October-November 2017

56

PETS | Health and wellbeing

http://www.petsmagazine.com.au

of an infected dog. When your dog sniff s an

infected dog’s stool, it can contract the disease.

Parvo can also be brought into your dog’s

environment by way of shoes that were in

contact with the infected faeces.

“If your dog needs to be hospitalised and

treated for Parvovirus, costs can easily exceed

$1500,” Dr Leigh says.

The best prevention against Parvo infection

is to follow the correct vaccination protocol.

Young puppies should be vaccinated from 6–8

weeks of age, then every 2–4 weeks until 16

weeks of age or older.

“Vaccinating your dog will not just save money

— it could also save your dog’s life,” she says.

Dr Leigh shares advice on protecting your

puppy from Parvo:

• Do not socialise your puppy with unknown
  dogs until at least two weeks after the last
  vaccinations. (Please join puppy pre-school
  and socialise with dogs that you know are
  vaccinated.)


• Keep unvaccinated pups away from
  veterinary clinic fl oors and boarding kennels,
  and avoid walking in parks and around town
  in endemic areas.


• Don’t allow your dog to come into contact
  with any strays or dogs whose vaccination
  history you don’t know.


• When out walking, always collect and
  dispose of your dog’s waste.
  Parvovirus is resistant to most household
  disinfectants. Bleach is the best way to clean
  contaminated areas. For more information
  about Parvovirus, consult your veterinarian.

diagnosis of some conditions is made by

collecting samples of the stomach and

intestines for histopathology (the study of

changes in tissues caused by disease).”

TREATMENT AND

PROGNOSIS OF

GASTROENTERITIS

Treating the underlying cause of gastroenteritis

is important but so is correcting dehydration

and any electrolyte abnormalities, and

preventing further vomiting. This often

requires hospitalisation, says Dr Leigh. “Gastro-

protectants and antibiotics may be given as

part of the treatment. Changing the diet is also

recommended, regardless of the cause,” she says.

In moderate gastroenteritis cases that

require hospitalisation for rehydration,

vomiting and diarrhoea normally improve

within 48 hours of treatment. The majority of

cases do not require hospitalisation, but in

most cases diarrhoea can take up to 10 days to

resolve, says Dr Leigh. “Puppies and older dogs

can feel the eff ects much harder due to having

a less-developed immune system and often

less body fat,” she says.

Dr Leigh’s advice for pet owners concerned

about their dog’s stomach problems is to not

wait for symptoms to continue or get worse. “It

is always best to get veterinary advice early on

for what you can do for your dog,” she says.

WHAT IS PARVOVIRUS?

Parvovirus can be transmitted by direct

contact with an infected dog or the faeces

SOME CAUSES

OF CANINE

GASTROENTERITIS

• New foods or sensitivities
  to certain foods


• Viruses or bacterial infections


• Parasites


• Reaction to medications


• Poisons


• Tumours


• Abdominal disorders
  (ie pancreatitis)

OMECAUSE

S

Sensitivity to new foods can

be cause for gastroenteritis.

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