Patient Profile: "Stinky", a 3-month old, intact female Labrador Retriever.

History: "Stinky" presented to the emergency service on 4/23.   She had been vomiting and had bloody diarrhea for a few days now.  Her owner said 2 other puppies in this litter were also sick.  They had all been vaccinated once.

Physical Examination:  Heart rate = 190/minute.  Pulse rate = 190/minute.  Respiratory rate = 50 breaths/minute.  Body weight = 13 kg. "Stinky" was depressed and estimated to be 10% dehydrated.   Capillary refill time was >2 seconds.  Lungs and heart ausculted normally.   Intestines feel fluid-filled.

Laboratory Findings:  Neutropenia (100/uL) and lymphopenia (800/uL).   Sodium = 142 meq/L.  Potassium = 3.5 meq/L.  Chloride = 101 meq/L.

Questions:

• How is parvo spread and what areas of the body does it affect?
• What clinical signs do you see with parvo and what other differential diagnoses must you consider?
• How do you diagnose parvovirus infection?
• What treatments would you institute for "Stinky"?
• What parameters should you monitor for the next few days?
• What should you tell the client about cleaning the household environment?
• Regarding parvo vaccines, what is the recommended vaccination schedule for dogs?

Answers and Discussion:

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Copyright Wayne E. Wingfield, DVM and Brenda McClelland, DVM, Colorado State University, 2000. All rights reserved.
This page was last edited:  08/24/00