Canine parvovirus causes severe, often fatal gastrointestinal disease in unvaccinated dogs. Prevention through vaccination is highly effective; survival requires intensive supportive care.
Parvovirus causes extreme suffering. Affected puppies experience profuse haemorrhagic diarrhoea, projectile vomiting, severe dehydration, and abdominal pain. The disease progresses rapidly — a puppy can deteriorate from apparent wellness to critical illness within 24-48 hours. Hospitalisation for days to weeks is required for survivors, involving repeated venipuncture, IV catheterisation, and isolation. The welfare cost of preventable parvovirus in unvaccinated dogs is immense. Most cases are entirely preventable through routine vaccination. The primary welfare intervention is ensuring all dogs, especially in underserved communities with lower vaccination rates, have access to affordable vaccination programs.