where does dogs get parvo?

I have been answering questions on here and i see so many questions about their dogs having parvo. Just curious, all these dogs with parvo how are they getting it? are they not getting their shots or can they get parvo if they have had their shots? where does parvo come from ? i have a sheltie and she does have all her shots. .

 

I have been answering questions on here and i see so many questions about their dogs having parvo. Just curious, all these dogs with parvo how are they getting it? are they not getting their shots or can they get parvo if they have had their shots? where does parvo come from ? i have a sheltie and she does have all her shots.

 

Answer

 

 

The disease is caused by a highly contagious virus that is transmitted mostly by dogs orally contacting infected feces. Being a virus, they contain only DNA or RNA, and are not capable of reproducing unless they invade a cell. Once inside the cell they take over and force the cell to produce so many new virus particles that the cell eventually bursts, releasing these new virus particles into the bloodstream and tissues so they can invade other cells. The only thing that can stop this is the immune system. Viruses are the smallest of know living organisms, and can only be seen with special microscopes called scanning electron microscopes, that cost millions of dollars (ours is on order). The parvovirus is extremely small (the Latin word for small is parvo)- just 1 thimble full of stool can contain millions of virus particles. It is easy to see why contamination occurs so readily. Incubation period varies from 5-10 days.As in many viral diseases of the intestinal tract, some dogs can pick up the disease and shed the virus without significant symptoms in themselves.

 

 

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