PARVO BULLETIN

Canine Parvovirus is a very dangerous virus that primarily affects puppies.  It is widespread on the Flathead Indian Reservation.  Parvo is the #1 killer of puppies in our communities and can kill close to 90% of puppies it infects if left untreated.  It can be very brutal, painful, and traumatic, and therefore is the source of much tragedy within our communities.  It can be very expensive to treat, but does not have to be.

SPAY!  The number one thing you can do to help is SPAY, SPAY, SPAY.  Puppies born into high-risk areas like St. Ignatius, Pablo, Charlo, Dixon, Arlee, and Turtle Lake are at incredibly high risk of contracting parvo if allowed to wander around in public areas outside.

LIMIT ROAMING!  The second obvious prevention strategy is not allowing your puppy to walk around outside except in a fenced yard with no known history of parvo.

VACCINATE!  The third prevention strategy is vaccinating early and often.  Details on vaccination protocols and effectiveness are described below.  DAPP (one of those "p"s stands for parvovirus) can be purchased at local pet, feed, and ranch stores, and you can give the vaccine yourself without a costly vet visit.

In high-risk areas on the Reservation, DAPP vaccine should be given EVERY TWO WEEKS starting at 4 weeks of age and all the way until five months (20 weeks) of age or until the puppy is removed from a high risk area/situation.

DAPP vaccines are immediately deactivated by maternal antibodies (natural protection the puppy gets from its mother's milk), so if your puppy still has antibodies from mom, the vaccine DOES NOT WORK!

Thus, early vaccination may not work, but it also poses no risk to the puppy's health.  If you are in a high-risk area, preventative precaution is critical.

If the DAPP vaccine works, it is 100% effective (not immediately, but after 3-5 days have passed and it is active), and it will NOT wane with time. It will confer that protection for years, so NO BOOST is needed.

BUT, in young puppies, one dose is NOT ENOUGH to protect your puppy and your home, because there's a fair chance the shot didn't work.

Most puppies lose antibodies around 6 weeks of age, which is why vaccinating generally starts at that time.  In high risk situations where parvo is likely to be present on the ground, the first does should be given at 4 weeks!

Unfortunately, for the general public, there is no way to know whether antibodies are still present in the puppy's system, so there is no guarantee that the vaccine has worked until 5 months of age, which is the latest that antibodies have ever been detected.

For puppies in lower-risk areas, we recommend first shot at 6 weeks, second shot at 10 weeks, and last shot at 20 weeks.

Treatment for parvo can be VERY effective and not very expensive if done EARLY, AGGRESSIVELY, AND ADMINISTERED AT HOME. The survival rate for puppies can be well above 90% if the treatment is immediate and symptoms are caught right away!  With every passing hour of delay, the chances of survival drop rapidly. If you wait until severe symptoms are presenting (bloody diarrhea, vomiting, severe lethargy and total loss of appetite), the chances of survival can be as low as 10%.

WHAT YOU NEED TO ADMINISTER TREATMENT: Cerenia injection (for vomitting), Endosorb (for diarrhea), antibiotic injection (to fight systemic infection), and fluids (a bag with a line and proper gauge needles).

AND you need to know how and when to treat.  ARC can offer that guidance.  Texting is typically the best way to reach us in an emergency: 406-20-9338

No, you do NOT need to rush your puppy to an emergency vet in Missoula. No, fancy and very expensive modern treatments are not necessary to save your puppy. In fact, unless you can afford a bill well in excess of $1,000, find a different solution!

Most of our community members cannot afford in-house emergency treatment for parvo, and most vets will refuse to send effective treatment (injections and fluids) home with you without first doing expensive assessment and initial treatment at the clinic.

At first sign of symptoms, contact ARC right away by texting 406-207-9338.

The first symptom of parvo is most often marked drop in appetite and energy. If your puppy is listless and stops eating, and you live on the Reservation, you are very likely dealing with parvo! Seek help immediately. DO NOT DELAY. Our number is 406-207-9338.

Later symptoms include diarrhea (including blood), vomiting, quick loss of body function, and death.

Clean, hard surfaces like linoleum, sealed concrete, plastic, etc. can be effectively sanitized with a 1:10 bleach/water solution if thoroughly drenched and left to dry.

THERE IS NO WAY to eliminate parvo from the outside environment once it is contaminated, and the parvo can persist there for several years (as long as 9!).

Dogs that are at least 5 months old, healthy, and successfully vaccinated with a DAPP shot that is administered no earlier than 20 weeks of age are essentially at ZERO risk from parvo. They are immune and will continue to be immune for years.  The single exception is immunocompromised and geriatric dogs.

Puppies that have survived parvo are considered immune to reinfection from parvo BUT, they are not immune from distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus, which are also covered by the DAPP vaccine.