Parvovirus is such a deadly disease for dogs. Every responsible dog owner wants to protect their beloved family dog ​​from this wretched disease. However, despite the best and most loving intentions, there are misconceptions, myths, and misguided advice that can make it difficult for your dog to recover.

One thing many people don’t realize is how serious and contagious this disease is, and unfortunately this can lead to many practices that can hurt a dog’s chances of survival, chances of remaining free of parvo if it recovers, and the chances of keeping the infection away from other dogs. So here’s a second list of dangerous misconceptions about parvo. You can find the link to the first part at the end of this article.

1. My dog ​​must have been in the presence of another sick dog for this to happen. Not so. You can bring this highly contagious and deadly disease to your dog by touching anything that has been touched by someone who has touched anything the dog has touched. This isn’t your fault, and neither are the things you have to do when cleaning up after a dog with parvo. And please don’t let yourself feel bad because he needs groceries. Just as a consideration, it’s good to understand that when your dog has parvo, you clean up after him, then touch the sink faucet handles, the towel you dry your hands on, the counter where you place the treat, etc. This happens again later when you’re not treating your dog, and others in the house have to use these things too. People need to go shopping, to school or work, etc., and the disease is taken by anyone who has been around. Parvo is everywhere. It’s not your fault at all. The disease just exists, so if you do the best you can, that’s all you can do. This brings us to myth number two:

2. I washed my hands. I no longer carry the disease with me. It would be great if that were the case, but washing your hands does not kill the virus.

3. I can use antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer to clean my hands. Well, there are three things to consider about antibacterial soap. It kills only a few types of bacteria, it can cause bacteria to mutate into forms we don’t have antibiotics for (refer to deadly flesh-eating bacteria), but most importantly regarding parvovirus: parvovirus is not bacterial. it’s viral. That means your antibacterial hand soap won’t do much in that area. It cannot kill the virus. All you can do is physically remove some of the virus from your hands, but not all of it. Also note: While hand washing is always a good practice, your sink is now infected with parvo. Also the bar of soap and the towel you just used. You will want to bleach your sink as often as possible, which can be most conveniently accomplished by purchasing a spray bottle from a hardware or garden store and filling it with the solution. You can leave it on the bathroom counter if you want. (Don’t forget to open the windows when using bleach.) If you have children in your home, it is best to have them where they cannot breathe the vapors.

4. I can use isopropyl alcohol to clean my hands. Unfortunately, this is not enough. A resistant virus like parvo needs a half cup of bleach per gallon of water. This solution can lighten your carpet and clothes, but unfortunately, that’s what it takes.

5. My dog ​​has been exposed to parvo! You’d better get him vaccinated right away. If a dog is vaccinated within two weeks of contracting the disease, it can actually make recovery from him more difficult, and in some cases impossible. Instead, he’ll want to prepare his house and his garden as he would if he were recovering from parvo (bleach). Then you can use the Parvaid prevention kit, which may very well prevent your dog from becoming symptomatic, and if he has become symptomatic, may help him recover. He can still vaccinate afterward if he wishes, but you’ll want to share your concerns with your vet. You should always know about the possible exposure before giving the injection so that you can determine if it is safe to give.

6. My dog ​​is cured. He can no longer catch the disease. Unfortunately, this is also not true. I have seen dogs relapse even a year after recovering. But that doesn’t mean your dog can never be safe. Prevention and preparation are excellent guards against this deadly disease. When prevention becomes a habit, your dog is as safe and healthy as he can be.

Copyright 2009 Jana Ortiz

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