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Does a puppy with Parvo have a good chance of living into healthy adulthood?

Posted by admin on Jul 3, 2009 under Healthy Living

We have purchased a puppy (8 wk old black male lab X) from a pet rescue site and become quite attached though are yet to pick him up, and he has come down with Parvo. He is apparently doing really well, what are his chances of living into a healthy, robust adulthood? We want to save him only I am a little concerned he might be sickly for his whole life. Will he be contagious for long? Does anyone have advice?

I am a licensed veterinary technician. Most of the puppies with parvo that we treat in the hospital turn out fine. The major problems happen when owners wait too long to have them treated in the first place. However, there is always a chance of them having a low immune system in the first place. I took in a very ill parvo puppy that was left on the doorstep. We didn’t think he would make it. He is trying to steal toast from my husband as I type this, and he will be 9 years old next month. Studies say anywhere from 30-90 days as to being contagious.Just be careful and avoid other puppies and unvaccinated dogs as long as possible!!! Use 1 part bleach to 10 parts water to clean hard surfaces and the bottom of your shoes. I hope he does well and you get a great friend.

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  1. The First Dragon Said,

    Parvo is very expensive to treat, and chances he will die anyway are significant, depending on how soon treatment was started.
    However, if he does survive, he should be fine.
    References :

  2. mojo2346 Said,

    After your dog is treated he should be perfectly fine, he needs to be vaccinated once a year. my dog had parvo and she survived it and she’s doing fine, she’s the most hyper dog ive ever seen. The only problem is going through the virus but after that its fine.
    References :
    me, my dog had parvo

  3. ferretluver Said,

    I have a 3 yr old perfectly healthy Beagle that had Parvo at 3 mos. He was in the hospital for 2 weeks. He has had no ill-effects from it. I was told that if they make it through the first few days then the chance for survival goes up greatly. Parvo is transmitted through feces & it can live up to a year in someone’s yard. Humans cannot get it & since your pup has been at the shelter you have no worries about your yard being contaminated. Good Luck
    References :

  4. Threase Said,

    He wont be sickly all his life.My neighbor has a boxer that is 12 years old. and when he was a pup his pup had parvo.his pup got really sick and got heathy and lives a good life.
    References :

  5. llsnwtsn Said,

    My american bulldog overcame parvo and is healthy and stubborn as she can be
    References :

  6. Help Said,

    If the pup survives the Parvo,it can still grow up to be a very healthy pup,but please make sure it has had all its vaccinations for such before bringing it home,as the parvo virus is very easily transmitted to other pets that isn’t vaccinated for such.
    References :
    Breeder in Mississippi

  7. Lola Said,

    If you know the pup has parvo, you are already seeing a Vet, so please ask these questions to the Vet.
    Parvo is very threatening and dangerous, you are lucky if your little guy is getting through this. I wasn’t so lucky when my dog’s litter got Parvo, they were so young and it is very contagious.
    Keep a very very close eye on him and follow the Vet instructions to the letter, this is nothing to fool with. If he is lethargic, wobbly, not eating or throwing up get him in to the vet immediately. One day our puppies looked ok, and in a matter of hours they were sick, one after the other. Very scarey how quickly they can have a set back.
    I wish you and your puppy the very best of luck !
    References :

  8. ferret.friend Said,

    I am a licensed veterinary technician. Most of the puppies with parvo that we treat in the hospital turn out fine. The major problems happen when owners wait too long to have them treated in the first place. However, there is always a chance of them having a low immune system in the first place. I took in a very ill parvo puppy that was left on the doorstep. We didn’t think he would make it. He is trying to steal toast from my husband as I type this, and he will be 9 years old next month. Studies say anywhere from 30-90 days as to being contagious.Just be careful and avoid other puppies and unvaccinated dogs as long as possible!!! Use 1 part bleach to 10 parts water to clean hard surfaces and the bottom of your shoes. I hope he does well and you get a great friend.
    References :

  9. beebop Said,

    Ok so your are going to get alot of answers most likely that say it is going to die,not true, yes the chances get slimmer the farther along the virus progresses but i have pulled dogs back from very severe cases. first off hydration is key you need something packed with electrolytes to keep it hydrated with some vets will provide you with a drink but things like pedialyte will work as well,second is the time your are willing to put into it the first 4 days or so it is going to need around the clock care. as for his chances of being a healthy dog if he pulls out of it sure i have a dog that is 10 years old now that suffered severe parvo as a puppy and he still seems to be going just fine. as for contagious im not sure how long afterwards but if you clean all his food and water dishes plus the area you are keeping him in it should be fine
    References :

  10. anita b Said,

    If he survives the parvo (which sounds like it was caught early and is being treated) he will probably be fine. My mom lives in an area where very few puppies are vaccinated, and she has taken in many puppies with parvo, lots which were very sick and she was told would probably die, and right now she still has 2 dogs which she got this way and they are EXTREMELY healthy. So I wouldn’t worry about it so long as the puppy makes it through the parvo. Kudos for rescuing a mixed breed, by the way.
    References :

  11. Ride on Said,

    Many pups recover fully from Parvo and suffer no future problems if treated quickly and correctly .
    There is a plus, if he recovers, he will be immune to future Parvo infection.
    References :

  12. Whippet keeper Said,

    Many pups do make it through Parvo now, if it’s caught soon enough. He won’t be contagious once he stops shedding the virus. As long as the vet gives him a good prognosis then I’d say his chances are good to live a long healthy life. If he has a super high fever you can ask if there will be any lasting damage to his systems.

    Ask the vet if there is any chance of re-infection. I don’t believe he can get it again.

    Many dogs survive Parvo and live long healthy lives. It is a scary disease though. I know people who have lost puppies to it. I vaccinate my dogs on time and am very careful with my pups til they are over 4 months old.
    References :

  13. Diane S Said,

    My friend had a Lab that had Parvo at 3 months just days after she bought him. With the right treatment from the vet he lived to the ripe old age of 13 passing away just before last Christmas. Hero was strong and healthy all of his life. He passed to old age and nothing more.

    Praying the puppy will get well and be able to be with you soone.
    References :

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