Although parvo, also known as parvovirus, is a disease that is routinely found in puppies and other young dogs, it can also be found on occasion in older pets as well. When it strikes in puppies, parvo is fatal in a majority of cases that aren't treated promptly. However, thanks to a parvo vaccine that is highly effective, the disease is not a major concern for many puppies. It's important to recognize the dangers and possibilities of the parvovirus attacking your older dog as well, especially because many pet owners and even vets are not accustomed to seeing the disease in dogs beyond a few weeks or months of age.
Overview of Parvo in Older Dogs
Parvo is a disease that attacks only certain types of cells in your pet's body. It breaks down cells that reproduce and divide very quickly. In most animals, the only cells that reproduce quickly enough to serve as an adequate target for the parvo virus itself are the cells which line the inside of the intestinal wall. For puppies, the disease can cause major damage to the intestines and the digestive tract, and it's oftentimes very serious or even deadly.
Older dogs suffer from the disease in a different way from puppies, however. In most older dogs, the cells which divide quickly enough to be targeted by parvo are limited in their location and are not lining the entire outside of the intestines. Rather, it's oftentimes just the cells at the ends of the intestinal tracts which are affected by the disease. The result is that adult dogs oftentimes do not suffer from nearly the same degree of damage as puppies.
Symptoms of Parvo in Older Dogs
The primary symptoms of parvo in younger animals include diarrhea and vomiting, both in extreme amounts. Because older dogs don't have the same degree of damage in many cases, however, they will likely not suffer from symptoms that are as negative. You may see mild stomach upset and localized cases of vomiting and diarrhea, but it's unlikely that your pet will be severely debilitated.
Diagnosing and Treating Parvo in Older Dogs
While the disease in itself may not be as deadly to older dogs as it is to younger animals, parvo should still be diagnosed and treated promptly. This ensures that your pet isn't left weakened and susceptible to other damage that may develop. If you do notice your pet suffering from regular or infrequent vomiting and diarrhea and you're unable to attach any reasonable cause to those episodes, report them to your vet.
While intravenous fluids are provided as a treatment for puppies with parvo, these are not usually given to older dogs. Generally, however, you'll have to wait until the virus runs its course. While that's happening, you may be instructed to give your pet certain antibiotics to help prevent any type of secondary infection that may occur as well.