Enteritis in dogs parvovirus, coronavirus and bacterial - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods. Enteritis in dogs: types, symptoms and treatment

When you bring a puppy into your home, it is a great joy and responsibility. In fact, such an acquisition can be compared to the birth of a child. In developed countries, before buying a dog, you will have to get a paid consultation with a canine specialist, who will find out how much time you are willing to devote to raising it, and whether you have the opportunity to feed and treat your pet properly. The second point is the most critical. Veterinary services today are very expensive.

At the same time, each owner receives basic information about the need for vaccination and the symptoms of the most dangerous diseases. One of these is enteritis. In dogs, it is very difficult and often leads to the death of the animal. Therefore, the sooner you see a doctor, the greater the chances of recovery.

General information

Every owner cannot be a veterinarian. But it's not that difficult to recognize. The clinical picture is very bright. This is an infectious disease, or rather a whole group that causes intestinal inflammation. Almost all important organs are affected.

Vaccination is the only measure to protect your pet’s body. No breed predisposition has been identified; any animal can get sick. Therefore, if the breeder convinces that he did not vaccinate because these dogs do not get sick, it is better to look for another one. They are simply trying to deceive you. Most often, this disease affects puppies and older dogs. But susceptibility to infection remains at any age.

Two forms of the disease

Only an experienced veterinarian can distinguish them from each other, and even then only if he has enough time. Most often, animals are brought to the clinic in serious condition, since enteritis in dogs often develops rapidly. It also happens that animals are diagnosed with both forms at the same time, but this phenomenon is quite rare. In different cases, the symptoms can be either identical or diametrically opposed. So, what forms are we talking about?

In 93% of cases, the disease is caused by parvovirus. That's why it bears the appropriate name. Treatment in dogs should begin as early as possible, as the disease quickly leads to dehydration and death. In 80% of cases, the disease occurs with intestinal damage. The animal becomes lethargic. Of course, there can be a lot of reasons, but such a symptom should alert the owner. The cardiac form is observed in 20% of cases. The pathogen penetrates the myocardium and causes disruption of the heart and lungs.
Coronavirus enteritis. In dogs, in this case, the tops of the intestinal villi are affected. There is an acute form of the disease, in which the animal does not eat or drink, it has vomiting and diarrhea, and the stool is bright yellow. The mild form is accompanied by slight lethargy. In principle, you can do without treatment. The right diet will allow the body to devote all its strength to fight the virus and win.

How the disease develops and progresses

Since its nature is viral, infection requires contact with the carrier. The incubation period can last one day or a week. All this time, the dog can walk on the site and communicate with other members of its family. Water and food can also become a source of infection. Viruses perfectly tolerate the effects of gastric juice. It is not for nothing that the period from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms is called incubation. During this time, viruses successfully penetrate the mucosa. The active proliferation of pathogenic microflora begins, which entails the destruction of the cells of the intestinal lining.

All animals get sick. Half of the adults die. For puppies this figure is even higher and is approximately 90%. At the first signs of illness, you need to contact a good clinic and begin effective treatment.

Symptoms

The cardiac form is not very common, and coronavirus enteritis less often affects animals that were born to dogs with good immunity. Or it occurs in such a mild form that one can assume a banal intestinal disorder. The most dangerous is parvovirus enteritis.

In dogs, it develops so rapidly that sometimes owners don’t even have time to do anything. When leaving for work, they note that the pet is not very active, and in the evening they find the animal half dead from dehydration due to profuse vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of enteritis in dogs can arise and progress at lightning speed, in which case you will most likely lose your pet. But let's look at everything in order:

At the very beginning of the disease, the animal refuses to play. Within 24 hours, diarrhea begins. The stool is liquid and yellow in color. The temperature can rise to 40 degrees or, conversely, drop to 19.5 ° C. Sometimes vomiting begins. Such symptoms are characteristic of coronavirus enteritis.
On the second day, the skin loses its elasticity.
With parvovirus enteritis, on the first day of illness, bowel movements occur every 20-40 minutes. The stool is greenish and watery. Vomiting occurs every 30 minutes.
Symptoms of enteritis in a dog will only progress. On the second day, vomiting and diarrhea are observed at intervals of one to two hours.
Shortness of breath begins.
Within 12 hours the pet’s condition rapidly deteriorates.

The owner must understand well that there is no time to hesitate now. If there is a veterinary ambulance in the city, you can call it. Otherwise, you will have to take the dog to the clinic yourself. It is best if you have a veterinarian who takes care of your pet from the very first visit. In this case, he knows the entire vaccination schedule, health status and previous diseases. This is very important for quick diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Physiological changes

Signs of enteritis in a dog are a consequence of the processes that are currently taking place inside the body. You cannot try to influence only the symptoms, that is, block vomiting and diarrhea with the help of special means like Cerucal and Imodium. Swelling of the stomach causes compression of the receptors, so vomiting will only intensify.

But the main changes occur in inflammation, the mucous membranes are destroyed and come out in pieces along with the feces. This is typical for parvovirus enteritis. Inflammation of the stomach leads to vomiting, intestines - to diarrhea. A large number of cells disintegrate, which causes the release of toxins. This disrupts the functioning of blood vessels. Dehydration of the body also increases because fluid moves into the intestinal cells, which only activates the bowel movement reflex. Blood viscosity increases and the heart begins to work overload.

Immune response

Of course, the body tries to fight. But viral enteritis in a dog that has not previously been vaccinated is too severe. The body responds by producing antibodies. For 5-6 days, enough of them accumulate in the blood to bind viruses. But most of the pathogens at this time are in the intestines and myocardium. Dehydration and lack of nutrition complete the picture. The disease develops faster than the body's defenses work. Without therapy, death occurs on days 2-5 or 7-12.

And today there are breeders who refuse to vaccinate puppies, arguing that vaccines are dangerous. But is it worth talking about how many dogs die if vaccination is ignored? Yes, there is a certain risk, but it is not that great.

Treatment

It begins with a visit to the doctor, examination and diagnosis. A very important point is the type and course of the disease. With a mild form of coronavirus enteritis, only puppies and weakened animals need treatment. They will be prescribed a special diet, antibiotics and immunostimulants, as well as vitamins. This diagnosis has the most favorable prognosis. Usually, within a few days the pet will feel better, and the doctor will allow you to complete the course at home. By the way, many people are interested in where dogs should be treated. Enteritis is insidious. But a lot depends on the clinical picture. In severe cases, it is best to leave your pet in a hospital, under 24-hour medical supervision.

Main directions in treatment

The course of viral enteritis in dogs can vary greatly. Despite this, there are several directions in treatment that modern veterinarians adhere to.

Destruction of viruses. This is achieved through serums that contain antibodies.
Restoring lost fluid. Even if you go to the clinic immediately when symptoms appear, your dog can become dehydrated within a few hours. Not to mention if vomiting and diarrhea began at night, and the trip was postponed until the morning.
Removing toxins from the body.
Maintaining immunity.
Restoration of the stomach and intestines, heart.

Each of these areas is one of the components of the overall effective scheme. It is for this reason that only a competent doctor should prescribe a course.

Features of therapy for the intestinal form of parvovirus enteritis

In general, the therapy has something in common with the treatment of acute forms of coronavirus. Let's look at the main activities:

In the first three days, doctors actively use immunoglobulin and hyperimmune serums.
To avoid dehydration, a 5% solution of glucose and Reopoliglucin is used.
Immunostimulants - "Cycloferon", "Fosprenil" - are prescribed until the symptoms of enteritis subside. Treatment of dogs must be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor; the names of the drugs are provided for informational purposes only.
If serious damage to the intestines is obvious, then antibiotics must be prescribed. This is required to suppress secondary microflora.
Drugs to support the heart - Mildronate, Sulfocamphocaine.

Additionally, the doctor selects an individual diet. Since it will take quite a long time to treat enteritis in a dog, a plan for visiting the clinic is being developed. It may be more convenient to leave your pet for a day hospital. And at home, the doctor schedules procedures for each day.

Features of treatment for cardiac disease

It is less common, and it is not always possible to correctly diagnose the disease at the initial stage, which affects the effectiveness of therapy. Do not forget that treating enteritis in dogs at home, without constant monitoring and doctor’s prescriptions, very rarely leads to positive results. Most likely, your pet will die.

In the cardiac form, rapid intravenous administration of solutions is dangerous. Long, slow infusions are recommended. Up to round-the-clock administration. The rest of the treatment will be the same as described above. But there are some differences. If a dog has had this form of the disease, it needs lifelong maintenance therapy.

Treatment with traditional methods

Based on what is described above, you can understand how serious this disease is and how unpleasant the symptoms accompanying enteritis are. Treating dogs at home, without special training and knowledge, in most cases leads to the death of the animal. You should not resort to the advice of friends and give your dog vodka. She will not recover from this, but you will deal a noticeable blow to the liver and intestines, which need protection.

Even with adequate therapy, the chance of death of the animal is high. And in case of delay or incorrect actions, the likelihood of the pet’s survival is sharply reduced. Treatment with traditional methods is allowed only for mild cases of the disease and after consultation with a veterinarian.

Memo to the owner

Even before the first symptoms appear, you should not force feed the animal. If, with a mild form, the pet retains its appetite, then it should be dietary food. It is best not to give anything other than water without consulting a veterinarian.

After the crisis has passed, food must be introduced extremely carefully. The intestine is now a continuous wound. Rough, fatty food will cause severe pain and will not be digested. As a result, you will be set back in your treatment and will have to return to your veterinarian for help. After enteritis, the intestines take a long time to recover. The dog may continue to vomit. Therefore, we need a competent program to restore the body and the constant use of probiotics.

Diet

When your pet shows interest in food, you should offer him a light broth. It can be chicken or beef. It is better if it is cooked a second time. Now it is very important to provide gentle nutrition and not to overfeed the dog, even if it asks for more. The intestines are still too weak to experience another shock.

Boiled rice porridge in water will also be useful. It envelops the intestines and stimulates the growth of a new protective layer. After two days, you can give chopped meat, and then cottage cheese and kefir. All food should be fresh and warm. You need to increase the number of servings gradually. After about 2-3 weeks, you can return to your normal diet.

Consequences

Even a mild course of the disease does not mean that the body will fully recover. A full range of treatment measures also does not guarantee the absence of consequences. Let's consider only the most common complications, which the attending physician will definitely warn you about:

Lameness. It may be temporary or remain for life.
A puppy who has been ill will not be able to catch up with his peers. He will forever be delayed in growth and development.
About two weeks after recovery, polyps may begin to form in the mouth. They need to be removed.
Bitches often remain infertile.
Heart failure most often remains for life.

Prevention

A terrible and serious disease can be prevented in only one way. This is vaccination. Good nutrition and optimal conditions, timely walks - none of the above guarantees even minimal protection against the virus. The dog's immune system is unable to cope with it.

Puppies need to be vaccinated starting from 3-4 months of age. Before this, it is not recommended to take your pet to a walking area where other animals are. Experienced dog breeders say that during this period you need to wash the floors more often. After visiting the street, you must remove your shoes and wash your hands with soap. Today, veterinary clinics offer a wide selection of imported vaccines of good quality. There are not many complications from vaccinations. The likelihood of their development is much less than the risk of developing enteritis. An adult dog must be vaccinated every year as the immune response weakens.

A fairly new and relatively little-studied disease. Currently, in terms of the number of dog lives lost annually, it successfully competes with such a formidable infectious disease as canine distemper.

Parvovirus infection was first discovered in the United States in 1978. Over the next two years, it rapidly spread to other countries, and in 1980 it was registered in Russia. Since animals did not have natural immunity against this disease, a large number of dogs became ill and died. Among the sick and dead dogs, 90% were young animals aged from two to ten months.

Later it was found that parvovirus infection (canine enteritis) affects only representatives of the canine genus and does not affect animals of other species, despite the similarity of symptoms observed in similar diseases in these animals (panleukopenia of cats, infectious enteritis of rabbits, pigs, etc.) Not A person who comes into contact with a dog with enteritis can also become infected.

Enteritis in dogs is a very unusual and insidious infectious disease that can occur in different forms with different clinical symptoms. This greatly complicates its diagnosis in the early stages of the disease and, consequently, the fight against it, since the disease is transient and the results of treatment primarily depend on the timely provision of veterinary care.

It is very important for dog lovers to pay attention in time to some features in the behavior of animals that are harbingers of this disease, to correctly assess the situation and, without wasting valuable time, to provide qualified assistance to the dog.

First of all, you need to have an idea of how the dog is directly infected. The main source of infection is sick animals, which release the virus into the external environment through feces, vomit and saliva. Moreover, the virus begins to be released already in the incubation (latent) period of the disease, before the appearance of its first symptoms.

Recently recovered animals can also be carriers of this virus for a certain time. A person who has been in contact with, carrying the virus on clothes, shoes, care items (comb, brush, etc.) can also become a factor in the transmission of infection. There are known cases of outbreaks of the disease after various public events: exhibitions, breeding of young animals, competitions.

Symptoms of enteritis in dogs

From the moment of infection until the first clinical symptoms of enteritis appear, the dog is in an incubation period, which can last up to ten days. Considering that enteritis in dogs, as a rule, occurs suddenly and resolves acutely, personal observations of the owner, noting various changes in the dog’s behavior, become important for timely diagnosis.

If you notice your dog is somewhat lethargic, take his temperature immediately. Normal temperature in dogs ranges from 37.5 to 39 degrees. Temperatures above 39 degrees should be regarded as the presence of a disease process. To measure a dog’s body temperature, you need to lubricate the end of the thermometer with petroleum jelly (or sunflower oil, baby cream) and carefully insert it into the dog’s anus with a rotating motion to a depth of 2-3 cm. Measurement time is 5 minutes.

It is advisable to carry out such measurements every 8 hours, making sure to record the data, so that the veterinarian can subsequently choose the correct treatment strategy.

It should be noted that an elevated body temperature in a dog with parvovirus enteritis is not always established; it often remains normal until the death of the animal.

Let us also pay attention to one more point that indicates the onset of the disease and usually goes unnoticed. Look at the dog: the appetite is normal, on the street it is quite mobile, but when stroking its back and sides, it tightens its stomach and slightly arches its back, and when pressed in the stomach area it reacts painfully. Such stomach pain should be regarded as the first symptom of parvovirus enteritis. Often at this moment the dog sharply refuses milk, although previously it willingly drank it.

Usually, a day after the onset of these symptoms, enteritis begins, first with the remains of undigested food, then replaced by viscous, gray discharge. After some time, diarrhea appears. Initially watery, yellowish in color, covered with greenish veins of the intestinal mucosa, it later turns bloody, with a disgusting putrefactive odor. .

Due to severe pain in the stomach, animals cannot lie down and stand with their heads buried in a corner or some objects. Young dogs can die from severe dehydration, pain and heart failure 1-3 days after the first signs of the disease appear.

Enteritis in dogs can occur in another form. The owner notes that the dog is lethargic and drowsy. Body temperature rises to 39.5 degrees and above. With this form, there is no pronounced pain in the stomach, but a strong rumbling can be heard in the stomach, especially in the first days of the disease. As a rule, the dog refuses food or eats it reluctantly, but drinks water. Vomiting appears on days 2-3, after which the animal’s condition worsens. On days 4-5, the dog dies with signs of heart failure (barely noticeable or rapid breathing, pale mucous membranes, weak, elusive pulse, cold extremities, lack of response to names and commands). A characteristic feature of this form of the disease is the absence of diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea may appear immediately before the death of the animal, or several hours before it.

At the first suspicious symptoms, the dog must be immediately shown to a veterinarian, who will make a diagnosis, prescribe a course of treatment and observe the sick animal for the next 5-7 days. In this regard, it is very important to describe to the doctor as accurately and completely as possible all changes in the behavior of the sick dog.

Enteritis in dogs, treatment

First aid for a sick dog in the treatment of enteritis the assistance the owner can provide is as follows.

First of all, it is necessary to provide the dog with complete rest, completely remove it from drinking and feeding; without a medical indication, an enema should not be used.
We can recommend the use of petroleum jelly (worse than sunflower) oil, which, without being absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract, envelops its walls and helps evacuate toxic contents.

In case of enteritis, the owner must have the following medications in his home veterinary medicine cabinet:

3-4 syringes (from 5 to 20 ml), several replacement needles for them;
No-shpu, analgin to relieve pain. Please note that all medications must be administered to animals by injection, since the tablets are not absorbed by the dog’s body during this period;
Saline solution if there is severe dehydration (vomiting, diarrhea);
Sulphocamphocaine, cordiamine to support cardiac activity.

We would like to draw the attention of dog lovers that these medications should be used in combination with the main treatment developed by a veterinarian individually for each animal.

Consequences of enteritis in dogs

Dogs that have had parvovirus enteritis may experience disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract for a long time. Therefore, proper organization of animal feeding plays an important role. It is better to give food in small portions several times a day. The menu for a convalescent dog includes pieces of lean boiled meat (beef, veal), boiled vegetables, well-cooked rice in a weak meat broth.

It is advisable to abstain from fermented milk products during the first week of recovery. Any sausages, spices, sweets, fatty meats and fish, and bones are excluded.

2-3 weeks after recovery (depending on the dog’s well-being), you can return to the old feeding diet.

Dogs that have recovered from parvovirus enteritis develop long-lasting, almost lifelong immunity. The main method of preventing this disease is. Vaccination of puppies begins at 7-8 weeks of life.

One of the dangerous diseases, the timely treatment of which is not always possible, is parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Only vaccination can protect your pet from this disease. However, over time, the viruses that cause the disease mutate, which is why the owner must know the symptoms of the disease, which will help to detect the disease in a timely manner and begin treatment as soon as possible. In our article we will tell you what the symptoms of enteritis in dogs are, the causes of the disease, and how to treat it at home.

The enteritis virus is quite tenacious; it can withstand up to +60 degrees without changing its condition in any way. In addition to high temperature, it is not affected by chlorine, ether, or acidic environments. Any animal can get parvovirus, but signs of the disease are more common in young pets, from 2 to 15 months. The highest concentration of the virus is observed in the first 10 days after infection in the dog’s feces; it is also present in the pet’s saliva and urine. Viral enteritis in dogs occurs due to contact with:

Sick animals, insects that are carriers of the disease.
Through water or food contaminated with infection.
Due to contact with infected care items, bedding.

Most often, enteritis in dogs occurs due to:

Often enteritis in puppies is seasonal, the peak of the disease occurs in autumn and spring, with a decrease in activity in winter and summer.

Symptoms of parvovirus enteritis

The disease enteritis in dogs shows symptoms unexpectedly. If the first signs are not noticed, the treatment of the disease will be delayed, which sometimes leads to death. When it enters the body, parvovirus affects the gastrointestinal tract and cardiac tissue, so this course of the disease is dangerous for puppies during the period of active growth. Typically, parvovirus infection in dogs manifests itself as follows:

Apathetic state, slight malaise, fatigue. This is how the onset of the disease manifests itself; usually the owners do not notice these symptoms.
The dog sleeps constantly and does not react to strangers.
A day later, the course of the disease worsens, the pet’s temperature rises to 41 degrees.
The puppy vomits mucus or yellowish foam.
Diarrhea with green, brown or black mucus that has a foul odor.
A complete refusal to eat and drink leads to dehydration of the body, the pet already resembles a skeleton covered with skin.
The dog has shortness of breath and pale mucous membranes.
The wool is whipped into shreds and icicles, devoid of any shine.
If after 3 days the temperature returns to normal or drops below 37 degrees, then the course of the disease has taken on threatening forms and reduces the chances of recovery.
Enteritis in a dog can provoke a cardiac cough, blue mucous membranes, and heavy breathing. All this leads to an increase in not only cardiac, but also pulmonary failure and the development of myocarditis.
If the disease affects both the heart and intestines, the following symptoms appear: slightly elevated temperature, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea with blood.

Symptoms of coronavirus enteritis

Coronavirus is not as acute as canine parvovirus enteritis, it has a milder course of the disease, it is less contagious and less likely to be fatal. Coronavirus enteritis occurs through contact with feces; also, if an infected dog licks the grass, or the pet walks on it, he can become ill with this disease. Very often this type of disease affects puppies; in adults it is milder.

Vaccination does not provide a 100% guarantee, but treatment is faster. Sometimes the owner, especially of adult dogs, does not notice that the pet is sick. In puppies born from a mother who has not been vaccinated against enteritis, symptoms develop within 2 days after the virus enters the body. Coronavirus gives the following symptoms:

Apathy, refusal to play.
Aimless walking around the house, lethargy, fatigue.
Lack of appetite.
Diarrhea is yellowish in color and does not have a foul odor.
Pale mucous membranes, devoid of blue.
Severe symptoms in the form of constant vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and dehydration appear when a secondary infection occurs.

Coronavirus gives similar symptoms to parvovirus, only they are weaker and do not debilitate the pet as much. Coronavirus enteritis rarely leads to death, only in 10%.

Treatment

Enteritis in a dog can only be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian, having previously undergone tests to detect the virus. Coronavirus can be treated with the same medications as parvovirus. Treatment of enteritis at home consists of:

The animal should be completely at rest; it does not need to be fed, but it must be provided with fresh water in constant access.
You can do an enema with Vaseline oil; it helps remove infections from the body and is not absorbed into the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. You should not use sunflower oil because it can worsen your pet's condition.
Analgin, No-spa can relieve pain.
Saline solution will help with dehydration.
Sulfocamphocaine will help support your dog's heart function.
Astringents and antiemetics will help prevent dehydration.
Antibiotics help fight secondary infections.
After improvement occurs, you can start feeding your pet beef broth. If he is so weak that he cannot eat on his own, then you can feed him with a syringe, carefully introducing the broth into the animal’s mouth. It is better to give food in small portions several times a day, because the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. In addition to broth, your diet can include boiled vegetables and cooked rice.
If treatment lasts 1 week, then you need to abstain from fermented milk products. Also, smoked meats, spicy and fatty meats, any fish and bones, as well as sweets are excluded for a long time. When treatment lasts more than 3 weeks, you can gradually return to your previous diet.

All medications must be administered only by injection, since tablets in this disease are not fully absorbed.

When caring for a dog, you need to remember about hygiene measures; of course, the canine coronavirus is not transmitted to humans, but in addition to it, vomit and feces may contain other pathogenic bacteria. Timely vaccination will help protect your animal from this serious disease, but it does not provide a complete guarantee, because even a pet that has recovered from the disease can become ill with this disease again.

You have a puppy at home. Of course, this is a joyful event, but you must remember that it is also a huge responsibility. First of all, you are obliged to monitor the health of your pet and try to protect it from the most serious diseases, in particular from parvovirus enteritis. Today we will tell you in detail about this disease, which until recently meant almost a death sentence. Now the situation has changed, modern vaccines provide fairly reliable protection against this formidable disease, and veterinary drugs can cure it at almost any stage.

The most important thing is to prevent the animal’s body from becoming severely dehydrated, otherwise the chances of recovery will drop sharply. So the sooner you get your pet to the clinic, the easier it will be to treat parvovirus enteritis.

What is it

Indeed, it is better to start from the very beginning. So let's start with the definition of parvovirus enteritis. This is an acute viral disease that causes inflammation and necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, as well as damage to the heart muscle. Most often, young individuals aged from 2 months to two years are susceptible to this disease. In this case, a person cannot get sick. Outbreaks of this virus most often occur in spring and autumn.

Causes and development of the disease

Even without being a veterinarian, you can easily recognize the signs of parvovirus enteritis. In the vast majority of cases, the disease affects dogs under 6 months of age. The causative agent is a virus. When it enters the body, it begins to actively multiply in the epithelial cells of the intestine. This leads to their mass death. The animal’s immunity is completely blocked, and necrosis products begin to be absorbed into the blood. In response to this, the body tries to defend itself and turns on the blood clotting mechanism. This leads to microthrombi and disrupts blood circulation in vital organs. These are the kidneys and liver, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. After the coagulation mechanisms are exhausted, bleeding of the intestinal mucosa is observed.

But all this is not the worst thing. Parvovirus enteritis in puppies occurs with complete refusal of water. Usually, already on days 2-3, signs of hypovolemic shock develop and acute renal failure develops. In turn, damage to the heart muscle very quickly leads to pulmonary edema and heart failure. So, in a matter of days, the disease destroys all organs and systems and kills the animal.

Sources of the disease

Treatment of parvovirus enteritis will be effective only when we know exactly where trouble is coming from and how to avoid it as effectively as possible. So, sick dogs are the source of infection. These are virus carriers that release large quantities of the virus into the external environment. These are feces, urine and saliva. Rodents, insects, and even people who are not sick themselves are still carriers. Infection can occur through contaminated food and water, through contact with a sick animal (sniffing and licking itself or objects infected by it). Infection through bedding or care items is possible; it is especially important to take into account that the pathogen is very tenacious and persists in the external environment for a long time. It is resistant to heat and ether and chlorine, alcohol and soda. Therefore, taking puppies to a veterinary clinic for vaccination is not the best option. Usually they disinfect tables with alcohol, and this does not have any effect on the pathogen. As you can see, there are a lot of dangers around, and you need to learn to anticipate them all in order to prevent this terrible disease.

Prevention or risk zone

It is much easier to prevent any disease than to treat it, but this is especially true for such a terrible disease as parvovirus enteritis. Prevention is primarily aimed at increasing the resistance of the pet’s body itself, that is, resistance to bacteria and viruses. If this natural barrier is strong, then there is no need to be afraid. In order to increase resistance, you need to take good care of your pet. Good living conditions and high-quality feeding, timely prevention of helminthic infestations, gastrointestinal diseases and avoidance of stressful situations are half the battle in protecting your pet from enteritis. Why half, because the second falls on preventive vaccinations. In the modern world, it is unreasonable to reject the achievements of science in the form of reliable vaccines and hope for chance. Be sure to complete all routine vaccinations prescribed to you.

Signs you need to pay attention to right away

Today we are talking about parvovirus. Symptoms, treatment and prevention are the information that owners need in order to respond to alarming changes in a timely manner. First of all, remember that the disease develops rapidly. From the very first symptom to the death of the animal, only 3-4 days can pass. The maximum that an animal can survive without treatment is 7 days. Vomiting appears first. It is impossible to stop it; forcing your pet to drink or eat will only make it worse. It is necessary to relieve intoxication with intravenous infusion of special solutions.

Sometimes, already at the first stage, gray-yellow diarrhea appears. The puppy completely refuses water and food. In this case, the condition worsens very quickly. Even if the first symptoms appear in the evening, you should try to take the animal to the veterinarian. Until the morning, painful vomiting can lead to a critical condition. As a last resort, call the nearest veterinary station and tell them what is happening. Every doctor knows how serious a disease parvovirus enteritis is in dogs. Symptoms, treatment today - by collecting all this information, the doctor will be able to guide you on how to help your four-legged friend.

The situation is getting worse

So, if treatment has not been started, or is unsuccessful, vomiting will continue. The stool becomes foul-smelling. Very often blood appears in the stool, and sometimes worms come out. Thick saliva accumulates in the mouth, and the animal does not have the strength to swallow it. The eyeballs are sunken, murmurs are heard in the heart, and wheezing in the lungs. At the same time, pronounced tachycardia is a very bad symptom, this means that the cardiovascular system is affected too much, and the prognosis is disappointing. If the body temperature was initially elevated, it now drops to 35 degrees and below. The abdomen is usually tense and painful. Shortness of breath develops. The mucous membranes lose their shine and become gray or reddish. Even with correct, intensive, but late therapy, mortality is very high, so it is extremely important to organize treatment as quickly as possible.

Clinical signs

The worst thing is when parvovirus enteritis develops in puppies. How to treat a young and fragile body when the virus destroys the heart and liver, kidneys and immune system. It is enough to delay the onset by just a few hours, and even if the dog recovers, it will remain a regular client of the veterinarian for the rest of its life, since this will lead to a huge number of chronic diseases. The incubation period is only 4-10 days, and the dog begins to release the virus into the external environment on the third day, when symptoms may be completely absent. This discharge goes away within 15-20 days, subject to survival. This disease manifests itself in three forms, each of which can be lightning fast or acute. If in the second case it is quite possible to save your pet, then in the first case you may not even have time to see a doctor.

Intestinal form of the disease

It is the manifestations of this form that parvovirus enteritis is most famous for. Prevention is to keep the dog’s intestines in perfect condition, then the immune system will be strong, and it will be much more difficult for the virus to break through its defenses. First of all, this is high-quality, balanced nutrition and timely anthelmintic therapy. In this case, the acute form occurs with virtually no signs of enteritis, the puppy shows a loss of strength and dies within a few hours. Mortality is very high, it is about 60%.

In this case, anorexia is observed, a complete refusal to eat. Very strong, mucous vomiting develops. 6 hours after its onset, the dog develops diarrhea. In this case, the feces are first gray, and then acquire green or purple shades. Very often they contain streaks of blood, sometimes they are mucous or watery, and almost always have a foul odor. Body temperature at this stage is most often elevated. In this case, vomiting and diarrhea very quickly deplete strength, after which a state of shock sets in. This is most often the case with parvovirus enteritis in dogs. Symptoms can be as little as a day ahead of death if you fail to stop fluid loss.

Treatment of intestinal enteritis

First of all, it is necessary to provide the animal with complete rest, because strength will be required to overcome parvovirus enteritis. How to treat must be agreed with your veterinarian. Eating and drinking are completely abolished until the doctor allows it; forceful infusion will only worsen the situation. It is highly recommended to use petroleum jelly, which envelops the walls of the stomach and intestines and interferes with the absorption of necrosis products.

In order to provide first aid, you should have "Levomycetin succinate" in your first aid kit. This is an antibiotic that is aimed at treating diarrhea. You will also need No-Spa and Analgin to relieve pain symptoms. In addition, "No-shpa" relieves spasms, which means the urge to vomit decreases. "Analgin" together with "Diphenhydramine" (two ampoules are taken into one syringe and injected intramuscularly) perfectly reduces the temperature. In case of severe and protracted course of the disease, it is necessary to have saline and glucose at home, which can be administered at least subcutaneously, in order to avoid dehydration.

Cardiac form of enteritis

It occurs much less frequently, most often as a secondary complication. After suffering enteritis, acute myocardial damage is observed after some time. That is, we can diagnose heart failure with a weak pulse and Most often, animals die suddenly due to disturbances in the nerve patency of the heart muscle. The mortality rate is very high, reaching 80%. It is very important to include Sulfocamphocaine, Cordiamin, or other drugs to maintain cardiac activity in the treatment regimen. Finally, there is a mixed form, when various lesions of the cardiovascular, digestive, and respiratory systems of the body are observed. This is typical for weakened animals with a weakened immune system. At the same time, the clinical picture can be blurry, and the symptoms are very diverse.

Treatment of dogs

The sooner you see a doctor, the greater your chances of defeating parvovirus enteritis. The symptoms will rapidly intensify, so put everything aside and see a specialist as soon as possible. It should be noted that the treatment of this disease is becoming increasingly difficult. The virus mutates and adapts, and doctors invent new schemes. Treatment is symptomatic, so the veterinarian will offer his own regimen for each patient. Most often it includes sulfonamides, antibiotics, heart medications, as well as saline and glucose. However, the fact that the number of drugs produced specifically for animals is growing, it is not becoming easier to defeat parvovirus enteritis in puppies. How to treat this or that animal, sometimes you have to decide along the way, observing the body’s reaction.

The classic treatment regimen necessarily includes a polyvalent serum, that is, globulins against enteritis. Essentially, the blood serum of an animal that was vaccinated with a special vaccine, in response to which the body produced antibodies. They are the ones who help a sick animal overcome its illness. In addition to globulins, saline solution and antibiotics (Ampicillin and Oxycillin) are required. It is equally important to block vomiting; Cerucal is used for this. Every doctor always prescribes Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that is an excellent antispasmodic and pain reliever. Additionally, "Sulfocamphocaine" is used to stimulate cardiac activity and vitamins.

Parvovirus enteritis in cats

The clinical symptoms are very similar to those we have already listed. These are vomiting and diarrhea, depression, fever and increased body temperature. However, high mortality is only in the hyperacute course of the disease, which is not so common. The acute course of the disease is characterized by anorexia, damage to the intestinal mucosa and rapid growth of bacteria. The probability of death is from 25 to 90%. Subacute and subclinical forms are much more common, but cats recover even without outside intervention. There is no specific treatment; the doctor can only prescribe maintenance therapy.

From dog to human or vice versa

In fact, there is no need to be afraid of this disease. Parvovirus enteritis does not occur in humans, so take care of your sick pet with complete peace of mind. But you yourself can become a source of danger for your pet. The virus can come home along with your clothes and shoes, toys, and various things from the veterinary clinic. Keep in mind that a wide variety of animals are brought there, and by simply going for vitamins or anthelmintic drugs, you can bring in dangerous pathogens. Their resilience is truly incredible. Neither cold nor boiling water affects them; chlorine and alcohol are powerless. It persists in soil and biological waste for several years.

The fact that parvovirus enteritis in dogs is transmitted to humans is a fairy tale, but treatment must be taken extremely seriously. If your pet does not survive, do not rush to replace it with another. The pathogens of the virus can survive in the most secluded corners of the booth or bedding, on fences that young animals like to bite, and simply on the ground. Therefore, if you live in a private house, you won’t be able to disinfect everything. Therefore, you need to wait two to three years and then buy a new dog, always from a vaccinated bitch.

The dog needs regular walks outside. And during this, the dog marks the territory and comes into contact with other animals. Sometimes he picks something up from the ground and eats it. And this threatens the emergence of a number of diseases. From simple indigestion to more serious illnesses. In addition to rabies and distemper, one of the most terrible diseases at the moment is enteritis. What enteritis is in dogs: symptoms and treatment, as well as prevention - all this will be discussed in the article.

The diagnosis of enteritis in dogs means inflammation of the small intestine. The disease is caused by viruses, bacteria and a number of other reasons. Enteritis is considered a relatively new disease. However, extremely dangerous. In terms of the number of deaths, enteritis is on a par with plague.

The first case of enteritis in Russia was recorded in 1980. At that time, animals did not yet have natural, developed immunity. Therefore, most of them died. For puppies and young dogs, enteritis is especially dangerous today.
Even if you manage to save the animal, the consequences can be very serious.

How dangerous is enteritis?

Of course, you need to know how to treat enteritis in dogs, but it is much better to prevent its occurrence, because the consequences of the illness can lead to serious complications.

Let's look at why enteritis is so dangerous and how to avoid worsening the condition.

The likely consequences and complications are given below:

Complications appear as a result of poor care and improper therapy. For example, some owners treat enteritis in dogs at home, selecting medications and dosage on their own. This is absolutely impossible to do. Therapy should be selected by a qualified, experienced doctor.

Why does enteritis occur?

Any illness does not arise out of nowhere. Special conditions are required for its development. Let's consider what conditions are needed for enteritis.

Factors contributing to the occurrence of this disease include the following:

What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Before looking at the symptoms of enteritis in dogs, it should be noted that this disease comes in different types. Primary and secondary enteritis occurs. Primary is characterized only by a problem with the intestines. Secondary is a symptom of another disease. Depending on the pathogen, parvovirus, coronavirus and bacterial types are distinguished. The clinical picture of each of the varieties has certain characteristics.

Parvovirus

This type of enteritis makes itself felt quickly. Symptoms develop almost immediately after infection. A puppy can die within just a few days of the virus entering the body. Therefore, it is so important to start treatment in a timely manner.

The peculiarity of parvovirus is that in this case the dog will not be hot. There is no fever. Body temperature is within normal limits. The pet sometimes remains active and eats well. However, signs of poisoning may appear.

The clinical picture looks like this:

Coronavirus

The clinical picture of coronavirus enteritis is similar to parvovirus. However, the symptoms are slightly milder. This is how the dog has a bloated belly, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, there is no blood in the discharge. True, it all depends on the form in which the disease occurs: mild or acute.

Signs of an acute course appear 2-5 days after infection. As for the mild form, the symptoms are almost invisible. A sick dog lies down all the time, lethargic. The temperature rises to 39 degrees. Feces are characterized by an unpleasant odor. The consistency is mucous and watery.
They have a green tint. But it happens that the pet behaves as usual. If the animal’s immunity is strong, in order to overcome the disease, all you need is a properly selected diet and adherence to the drinking regime.

However, if you experience convulsions and seizures, you should not hope that everything will go away on its own. It is better to contact a good veterinarian. The count goes on per day. And even one day can cost a pet’s life.

If enteritis is suspected, experts advise sending stool to the laboratory for analysis. This will help determine the type of pathogen. This means understanding how to treat a dog, what medications to use. Enteritis is often mistaken for an intestinal disorder or helminthic infestation. Therefore, it is important to find a qualified specialist. You should contact reliable and trusted veterinary hospitals.

How is enteritis treated?

It should be noted that treatment of enteritis in dogs will differ depending on the type of disease. Thus, one scheme is selected for an infectious disease, and another for a non-infectious disease. Some owners try to treat the animal at home using traditional methods. It is important to remember here that viral enteritis cannot be overcome without the use of specific serum with immunoglobulins.

Antibiotics are those medications for dogs that prevent the development of bacteria. They help reduce the risk of complications. Therefore, qualified veterinarians prescribe them in any case.

Today, most veterinarians use Sinulox 500 mg for dogs, which is a new generation of antibacterial agents. Usually it is given for a week, twice a day. The dosage is selected by the doctor individually: depending on the condition and weight of the animal. Typically, there are 12.5 milligrams of the drug per kilogram of dog weight.

The tablets are great for home treatment.

But in a veterinary hospital, Synulox injections for dogs are used: they are considered more effective. The dosage is 1 milliliter per 20 kilograms of weight. The injection is given once a day.