The average incubation period for parvovirus is 4-6 days, but can be up to 14 days. While it is possible the adopted pup was infected at your shelter given the timing there is a very good chance that this pup was actually exposed after it left which may be good news for your pup that are still there. However, I do think isolation is great idea. Given the potential exposure I would definitely send out a sample for a PCR to make sure as there are cases of parvovirus not showing up on the in-house tests. I would caution on using smell or blood as a diagnostic indicator for parvovirus, while we all know how it can smell just because it doesn't does not mean it isn't there.
I will pass along our general protocol for diarrhea in puppies (puppy = under 6 months):
- Confirm vaccination status (we vaccinate every 2 weeks beginning at 4 weeks of age with their last vaccination at 18 weeks of age, or until they leave the shelter).
- If the puppy is showing no signs of systemic disease (i.e., happy, active, eating, and drinking) and no history of exposure we do not immediately test for parvovirus, instead we move to fecal screening.
- In house fecal screening, if NPS then a giardia SNAP is run. I try to stress the "3 scoops from 3 different poops" (i.e. doing a fecal sample on 3 bowel movements from 3 different times) when possible to increase chances of finding what we are looking for as parasites are sneaky.
- If the fecal screening is negative we proceed with supportive care - GI food, probiotics, etc.,
- If the diarrhea is continuing despite supportive care (assuming the puppies are still happy) after 5-7 days then we will send out to our reference lab for an infectious diarrhea panel (this is a PCR panel that screens for infectious organisms).
- However, if the puppy is showing signs of systemic illness or has known exposure to a positive case then we do screen for parvovirus with a SNAP test. If it's negative and we have a strong suspicion we usually will send the stool out to the lab to confirm results with a PCR. If that is negative we proceed with the steps above.
- If no response after that we consider additional diagnostic testing.
We also do use routine deworming for our population to treat more prophylactically than reactively, but we are not a large shelter. Dogs are dewormed with Strongid T at 2, 4, 6 weeks (along with bitch), toltrazuril at 0.4 kg and over 2 weeks (or on entry), fendendazole x 3 days at 8 weeks of age or at entry, then a broad spectrum deworming tablet every month thereafter while they are at the shelter (must include rounds and hooks). What you do may be dependent on what you commonly see, size of shelter, and budget. We see a lot of coccidia and giardia, the prophylactic treatment has reduced the amount of outbreaks we have had. With the watery stool you are describing if you are getting negative results with the parvovirus, even when you send out, coccidia may be something to consider as it can cause that really water like poop and can sometimes be hard to find.
We try to avoid antibiotics like metronidazole as much as possible given the potential impacts to gut flora unless it is truly indicated (giardia, clostridium, etc.,), a probiotic will help rebuild it after the giardia treatment.
I hope this helps a bit with your situation.
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Stephanie Gunsinger
Supervisor
Brampton Animal Serviceds
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-09-2025 07:13 AM
From: Marisa Schlauderaff
Subject: Diarrhea help... any thoughts?
I have two litters.
Litter A-GSD x born 11/22/24- watery bloody stool, no parvo smell...Giardia Positive 12/21, Float rounds, Parvo negative. Treated with Panacur 7 day twice due to some staff error, Metro, pro pectalin. All improved until today. 2 are runny again. Never been any vomiting.
Litter B Lab mixes born 10/24/24- Tested positive for giardia 12/23. fecal rounds, I will admit I forgot a parvo on this one as they were nose to nose with the other pups due to board not thinking. Both pups improved on just panacur as poop was just running no blood. Adopted out brother. Next day brother 2 in the shelter, liquid stools again. Vet had us treated again to a soft serve pudding consistency. 8 days later brother, not in shelter, tested positive for parvo at adopters vet. The vet tested on no vomiting or diarrhea, just a low energy level. I immediately tested our pup. It's negative. I place him in Isolation. He is currently on EN food, pro pectalin and finishing panacur, and we added metro at 20mg/kg on Tuesday. vomited once 10 days ago but had a plastic piece in in.
Anything I should add, change to probios? send off etc? I am reparvo testing everything. It is not bloody on any of them. Nor does it have a parvo smell.
My vet asked me to reach out as we are at an end of what to do
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
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Marisa Schlauderaff
Veterinary Technician
Humane Society of the Lakes
MN
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