My dog has parvovirus. What can I do to help beyond vet care?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Parvovirus is a severe gastroenteritis that affect puppies more often. This is a viral infection so there is no direct treatment for the virus so the treatment per se is directed at treating secondary bacterial infections and mostly helping with the clinical symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and inappetence. This warrants ideally hospitalization with some cases being able to be managed with outpatient care depending on its severity. I recommend that you follow up with a veterinarian who can institute therapy for Loki as soon as possible. The quicker this condition gets treated the better the outcome tends to be. Good luck! Hoping for a quick recovery!  

It really depends on the severity of their disease. If they have a mild case than it might help but if they have severe vomiting and diarrhea than they need to be hospitalized on iv fluids with medications to help control the vomiting, diarrhea, and secondary bacterial infections. Parvo can be a fatal disease if left untreated. Hope your puppies feel better soon.

I would strongly recommend to have her checked by your local veterinarian as soon as possible as antibiotic treatment combined with supportive and nutritional therapy are required. It is best to be quite aggressive in terms of treatment to fight immediately against the infection. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

All you can do is supportive care meaning trying to give her fluids (something like children's Pedialyte) and small amounts of food (like human baby food, meat flavors). Do tiny amounts every hour or two. Hopefully she will be able to keep it down. The reason they need to be in the hospital on IVs is because they vomit up everything you try to give them by mouth. Keep her warm and comfortable. I really don't think people understand the seriousness of this disease. This disease (that is absolutely preventable with proper vaccinations) kills their intestinal cells and then depletes their white blood cells so they cannot fight the virus (among other terrible things this virus does). She should really be hospitalized with intravenous fluids, intravenous antibiotics, anti-nausea medications, pain medications and trickle feeding. Often times a plasma transfusion is needed to replace all the lost white blood cells. If you want to give her the best chance at survival then you need to get her to a vet for hospitalization. If finances are a concern I would have tried to direct you to a low cost clinic but since you did not provide your correct zip code I am unable to do so. I suggest you do your own research on the internet. Sorry, but this disease is not easily treated at home. You can try the above but that is about all you can do from home. If you would like to post again with your proper location then maybe we can direct you to a clinic or organization that can help you.

Poor girl. There is no medication strictly for parvo, but treatment consists of supportive care medication such as antibiotics, anti-nausea medication (Cerenia), fluid therapy (subcutaneous or IV fluids), vitamin supplements, and if needed pain medication. These are all medications that will require a veterinary prescription. They are also all injectable medications in the beginning of treatment since most parvo pets will not tolerate anything given by mouth. I do hope that you can work with a veterinarian in your area to help your cute puppy Gucci recover form this deadly disease. I wish you all the luck moving forward. Take care. : )

Hello. Please, please, please, see your veterinarian. Your older pup has a good chance of survival with the right treatment. This does not automatically mean hospitalization, many of these pups can be treated at home with the right instructions, medications, fluids, etc. But you do want to have the pup examined so that you know what you need to do at home. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Oreo! To have the best chance of survival, your dog does need to be hospitalized. Parvovirus treatment consists of aggressive supportive care to control the symptoms and boost your dog’s immune system to help him win the battle against this dangerous disease. Dogs infected with parvovirus need intensive treatment in a veterinary hospital, where they receive antibiotics, drugs to control the vomiting, intravenous fluids, and other supportive therapies. Please take her into a vet immediately.