Canine parvovirus is one of the most common viruses in dogs, puppies who have not been immunized or dewormed are particularly at a high risk for this disease. This condition is very serious because, if not addressed in time, it compromises the animal's life can cause death. Because diarrhea and vomiting are part of the symptoms of this disease, adjusting your pet's diet can be critical for their recovery, so on OneHowTo.com we explain what a dog with parvovirus can eat.
Always consult a vet
Parvovirus is a very serious disease that compromises the life of your dog, affecting their gastrointestinal system, red blood cell count and in more severe cases their heart. This virus causes vomiting and severe diarrhoea, so that dehydration occurs rapidly endangering the life of the animal.
For all these reasons it is imperative that if you suspect your dog has parvovirus, you take it to the vet immediately. No cures and home remedies that can help and only prompt medical attention can ensure their health.
Keep your dog hydrated
One of the main actions taken by veterinarians to treat a dog with parvovirus is administering intravenous fluids to rehydrate them. This can be done at the veterinary clinic or even at home with bags of serum.
Besides serum, offering your dog fresh, clean water that should be changed at least twice a day is also important to ensure they drink fluids. In the case of very small or debilitated animals it may be necessary to administer the water with the help of a needle-less syringe, thus forcing the dog to drink. Administering isotonic drinks will also help them stay hydrated and recover the lost salts.
It is important that at the same time the dog receives medication administered by the veterinarian to control vomiting and diarrhoea, if not rehydration will be more difficult.
Stop giving it food for the duration of vomiting
At the stage of intense vomiting and diarrhea is very important stop giving the dog food and concentrate solely on hydration. This period can last between 24 and 48 hours, at which point if the dog is boarding will receive serum to ensure their recovery and medication to control these symptoms.
If your dog is at home by order of the veterinarian, the most important thing is to ensure hydration until vomiting and diarrhea are relatively under control. If you worry too much about your dog's nutrition then you can give it homemade chicken broth prepared with carrot and a chicken breast without salt or seasonings to drink. Strain the broth and give like water, this will help it consume some nutrients while recovering.
Soft diet
Once your dog has recovered from vomiting and diarrhea and is more stable, then you should start to feed it with a soft diet. Some foods you can include are:
- Rice water.
- Homemade chicken broth prepared without salt or seasonings.
- White rice without salt or seasonings.
- Shredded chicken cooked without salt or seasonings.
- Canned food, much softer and more liquid.
Once the animal has recovered, you can start to feed it like normal again. While you treat the animal it is very important to remove this virus from your home, as it is extremely contagious and usually remains present in the home, you should disinfect your house from parvovirus.
For more information, consult our article on treatments for canine parvovirus.
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