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My dog had parvo symptoms but recovered quickly. Was it parvo?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | unspayed | 10 months and 10 days old | 10 lbs

Is it possible for a dog with a symptom of parvo to become energetic within the same day? In the morning she pooped but her poop was wet but still had shape, she also vomited and was lethargic. I got her meds from the vet and when i came home her poop was runny and had and smelled like blood. After giving her meds in the morning, In the afternoon she regained strength and is almost recovered in the evening since she ate, drank water and was playful. Was it parvo or another disease?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 29th, 2016

If Paris tested positive for parvovirus it is likely that she did have parvovirus since we do not typically see a false positive on the test. While many dogs get very sick from parvovirus there are some dogs who develop mild clinical signs and others can even be asymptomatic for the disease. If she did not have a parvovirus test performed than it certainly could have been another disease - there are many causes of vomiting and bloody diarrhea in puppies ranging from intestinal parasites to dietary indiscretion (eating non-food items). I'm glad she's feeling better!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on February 1st, 2019
Hi there. No, the parvo vaccine does not cause symptoms of parvo, and would also not cause a positive result on the test. It sounds like your pup may have had a fairly mild case of the disease, which is great! I'm glad she's feeling better.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 20th, 2018
I'm so sorry you lost your puppy.

Yes, some dogs seem to have relatively mild clinical signs with parvovirus and occasionally a dog will be essentially asymptomatic for the disease. Since at this point there no easy test to run to determine whether or JR had parvovirus I would recommend following instructions from your vet for cleaning the house and potentially restricting his access to areas where she was sick. If he is not up to date on vaccines it is very important that he is vaccinated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 7th, 2018
False positives are extremely rare with this test and I doubt this is the case based on what you are describing. It's difficult to know what stage of parvo she may have without evaluating her, but from what you are describing, it's likely that she is actively infected with parvo and may be recovering. The good news is that no matter the stage of the infection, she will likely get better with veterinary treatment. It all depends on how severely affected she was by this disease and other issues prior to you finding her. Your vet will be the best person to ask about prognosis with treatment, because they would have assessed her overall condition and other factors that can help predict the chances of recovery.

I hope that helps and Lucky gets better soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My dog has parvo. Diarrhea stopped, but she's still vomiting. Is she recovering?

If she's stopped having diarrhea, this is a good sign. I hope that she has some medication on board for nausea and vomiting - if not, your vet should be able to prescribe some for you to give at home. Normally, with parvo, the best sign of recovery is when they have gone 24 hours without any vomiting and are eating on their own - until then, you need to continue treatment with fluids and other supportive care.

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My puppy has parvo symptoms, negative tests. What else could it be?

Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Supportive care (IV or subcutaneous fluids, anti-emetics, anti-diarrheals and parenteral nutrition) may be indicated until a diagnosis is reached or until your pup recovers.

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My dog had vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool. Was it parvo? Socialize?

Usually dogs with parvovirus do not recover that quickly and they are much sicker. I doubt she had parvovirus. If she’s been with your other dogs previously they were probably already exposed to whatever she had. I would keep her separate and resting until she’s back to normal and no further diarrhea, then they should be fine together. I do recommend all dogs get a series of vaccinations to prevent parvovirus when they’re puppies, then annually. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Malibu.

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Why is my puppy so sick with vomiting, diarrhea after parvo shots?

Poor Daisy! If she's vomiting, acting lethargic, and not wanting to eat or drink much, this is quite serious and she needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away. I would recommend taking her in today for an exam. She may have an illness like parvo at this point, even if she tested negative recently - or she may have some other problem causing her current symptoms. Regardless of the underlying cause, these symptoms can be life-threatening in a puppy this age, so she needs veterinary care right away.

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Why did my dog die from parvo with no diarrhea and negative test?

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. We can occasionally have dogs that may test negative for parvo earlier in the course of the disease, so it is possible if your dog was never vaccinated for parvo and was a young dog (we can see this disease in older dogs, but the majority are 2 years and under). Other possible causes could include hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), Addison's disease, severe GI parasitism, or toxin ingestion. If you want a more certain answer to what happened you could request that your vet have a necropsy performed on Red's remains.

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My dog has parvo. Are these signs of recovery or false hope?

These are very positive signs! When a dog survives the first four days of parvo, they have a very good chance of recovery. It may be a few weeks before Sammy is back to himself, but I think based on what you are telling us, those are good signs.

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My puppy has parvo symptoms but tested negative. What should I do?

Occasionally a false negative parvo test does happen as dogs do not always shed the virus from their body during all stages of the disease. He should be treated as though he has parvo anyway especially if he does not have a good vaccination (or proper vaccination) history.

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