Parvo Survivor How To Cure Parvovirus

Parvovirus is a serious ailment with which young pups are at risk of becoming infected. Many people, when hearing of parvovirus, immediately think of the worst; that all dogs in the neighborhood are going to die a horrible death. The picture is of Sonny at five months, one week after treatment for parvovirus.

However, the fact of the matter is that most dogs that become infected with the parvovirus and are provided appropriate supportive care survive. Approximately 85% of dogs that become infected with parvovirus are less than one year of age. In dogs that are older than six months, the male dogs’ roaming tendencies are presumed to be the main factor in causing intact males greater likelihood of parvovirus infection than in intact females. The key in fighting parvovirus, as with any ailment your dog or even you may encounter, is early diagnosis and treatment.

Early diagnosis comes from being aware of what is happening with your, presumably, puppy. Gastroenteritis, one of the two clinical forms of parvovirus, is most common in puppies 6-20 weeks old. This is the period in young dog’s life when the mother’s antibody protection declines and the puppies’ vaccination has not yet established sufficient antibodies. Myocarditis, the other clinical form of parvovirus, is no longer seen as immunization of bitches protects pups from this form.

The parvovirus has incubation period of 3-8 days. After this time, infected dogs will show an acute onset of lethargy. This means the puppy that was extremely playful yesterday will not want to play today. This by itself may only be cause to pay closer attention to your dog. However, if your puppy has no interest in food and just wants to lie there, check its nose. If your puppy’s nose is warm or hot it has a fever and needs veterinary attention immediately.

Vomiting and diarrhea occurs as the parvovirus infection progresses. If left to continue, diarrhea will become hemorrhagic, or bloody. If these symptoms are occurring, it may be too late. The parvovirus causes the body to slough off the walls of the intestine. This causes blood to appear in the stool. Death is the next progression of parvovirus if left untreated.

Your veterinarian will provide a prescription bland diet for your puppy when it is able to accept food. Or a cottage cheese and bland (no salt) rice diet is acceptable. If your puppy survives the first 2-3 days, it will most likely survive.

Parvovirus is a very real threat to your puppy’s health. It can kill a dog within hours of symptoms becoming apparent. This is why prompt veterinary care is a must when your puppy shows any of the first signs of parvovirus infection.

These symptoms are lethargy or not wanting to play or even pick its head up as it lies; fever which can be determined by feeling the dogs’ nose; vomiting; and diarrhea. If your dog displays these symptoms, do not wait! Get it to the veterinarian.

Canine Dentistry

There are a number of responsibilities that every dog owner has to face. A responsibility that is often overlooked is the dog’s teeth. Despite this, veterinary dentistry is vital in maintaining the health of the your dog. These are a few areas with which to familiarize yourself.

Dental scaling and polishing-Dental scaling begins with a complete examination of the oral cavity. Most dental scaling procedures require the use of mechanical and/or hand scalers. Following the dental scaling procedure the teeth are polished to halt the rapid accumulation of plaque. The teeth are then examined for any remaining plaque. Following dental scaling and polishing, periodontal probes are used to check along each tooth. It is recommended that patients with pre-existing periodontal disease begin antibiotic treatment three days prior to dental scaling.

Endodontics- The study and treatment of the inside of the tooth, also called the pulp, and the tip of the tooth root is known as Endodontics. The pulp contains bundles of nerves, blood vessels and other tissues. . The dental pulp is a fundamental building block for immature teeth. Providing nutrients needed for strengthening the tooth wall is one of the dental pulp’s major responsibilities. Cracked and broken teeth are the major cause of endodontic disease in dogs. Endodontic treatment or tooth extraction is called for regarding any cracked or broken tooth. Included in these treatments are root canal, pulp capping and pulpotomy. Without treatment, infection will probably cause abcess to occur. You may notice swelling or draining just below the eyes. These abcesses can be extremely painful and a source of infection which can spread to other teeth and the bloodstream. If allowed to reach the bloodstream, infection can be fatal.

Periodontics- Periodontics is the study and treatment of the supporting
structures of the teeth. Periodontal disease is characterized by swelling of the gum and
other supporting structures surrounding the tooth. Periodontal disease is difficult to
control once it has developed; which makes prevention key. If allowed to develop, periodontal disease is difficult to control. To stop periodontal disease, it is imperative to reduce plaque accumulation. By the age of three, eighty percent of dogs show some sign of periodontal disease. If not treated, periodontal disease can cause serious health issues and even death.

Dental Radiography- Dental radiography assists in the treatment of difficult extractions and sometimes dental restorations. Dental radiography can assist with early detection of serious problems.

Restorative Dentistry- Restorative dentistry seeks to repair a tooth before it can be destroyed by cavities, fractures or breaks. As a tooth loses its contour it can become prone to periodontal disease. Teeth become prone to periodontal disease following the loss of contour. A crown is one choice in the restoration of a tooth suffering from coronal structure loss.

Orthodontics- Orthodontics is the prevention and correction of irregularities and misalignment of the teeth. The number one goal of performing orthodontic correction is to lessen pain Caused by misaligned
teeth or misalignment that will lead to endodontic or periodontal disease. If genetic abnormalities are suspected, the owner should consider having the animal spayed or neutered to prevent the propagation
of inferior genes.

These treatments are often expensive and can be traumatizing to your dog. However, most can be avoided with a little help from you. Chew toys can help lessen plaque accumulation along the gum line. If you allow your dog to chew bones, the chewing action will also help lessen plaque accumulation.

Tooth decay is noticeable through visual examination and the presence of chronic bad breath. Periodontal disease on the other hand, is often present without any noticeable symptoms. The supporting structures of the teeth are damaged by plaque in two ways. The first is the action of the bacteria and the second is endotoxin released from the plaque. An endotoxin is a toxin that is released by bacteria as they die. Without treatment the tooth will eventually become loose and then fall out.


What is periodontal disease?

Plaque, gingivitis and any infection that attacks the periodontium (supporting structures of the teeth) is periodontal disease. When periodontal disease is already present, destruction of the gingival sulcus has already started and will continue to deteriorate if not treated. As the bacteria accumulate, the chances of it gaining access to the bloodstream and becoming systemic increase quickly. If it becomes systemic, it will spread to organs such as the liver, kidney, lungs and heart. Left untreated, death of the animal will be the final result.

What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?

There are several indicators that show the presence of periodontal disease. One warning sign is the presence of plaque, a slippery white film, or discoloration of your dog’s teeth. Other warning signs include:
chronic bad breath, gums that bleed easily, red, swollen or tender gums, gums that have pulled away from the teeth and loose or separating teeth.

Periodontal disease may begin slowly for some dogs, yet others develop a rapidly progressing form of the disease. Periodontal disease varies for each dog. Some have a rapidly developing form of the disease while others may have slower developing variety. The goal in treating periodontal disease is the elimination of plaque and calculus (calcified plaque) from the teeth and preventing the reattachment of plaque on the teeth.

Your dog will lack the ability to adequately chew its food unless it has a full set of healthy teeth. Be certain to keep your dog’s health records up to date and seek dental care for it if you notice any symptoms of tooth decay or periodontal disease. Also provide chew to toys to scrub plaque from the teeth and plenty of clean water that will keep your dog hydrated and wash away plaque from its mouth. Be certain to wash your dog’s food and water bowls at least once a week.

With only a small amount of effort and a little thought about your dog’s diet, excluding items that stick to teeth including items that scrub the teeth without damaging the enamel, it is easy to keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
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