Home Remedy for Parvo
Canine Parvovirus (“parvo”) attacks rapidly reproducing cells — such as those that line the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, lymph nodes and heart.
Parvo is highly contagious and is transmitted from dog to dog via contaminated droplets and feces. It can be carried on the dog’s hair and feet, as well as on contaminated cages, shoes and other objects. Dogs of all ages can be affected, but the highest rate of death occurs in puppies less than five months of age.
Dogs that develop parvo will show symptoms 3-10 days after being exposed. Symptoms include: vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea (usually bloody), and fever.
The biggest needs in parvo treatment are fluid and electrolyte replacement so the dog stays hydrated, and medication to control diarrhea and vomiting. Diarrhea and vomiting can quickly dehydrate a dog.
Top 10 facts of the Parvovirus:
1 – The Canine Parvovirus is world wide.
2 – Parvo is a highly contagious and deadly disease.
3 – Even fully-vaccinated puppies are susceptible to the infection.
4 – Parvo mostly affects dogs under 1 year of age but an average of 6 weeks old.
5 – Bleach is the only product to kill the Parvovirus in the environment (with the exception of clinically tested products used to clean kennels).
6 – The virus incubates in the glands of the puppy for 3 to 15 days before showing symptoms.
7 – Once the incubation period is over the Parvovirus will work its way into the intestinal tract.
8 – After the Canine Parvovirus is in the intestinal tract the Parvo will start eating away at the velli and lining of the intestinal walls. Therefore bloody stools will be apparent.
9 – The puppy will either pass away from a lack of hydration or low glucose levels (blood sugars).
10 – If treating with Sub-Q fluid, do not over hydrate after the puppy has pulled through the worst of the virus as it will put a strain on the heart, cause edema, and may develop an abscess.
Are Some Dog Breeds More Susceptible?
According to The Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th ed., it appears that some breeds, most notably the Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, and Labrador Retrievers are at an increased risk for this disease. Conversely, Toy Poodles and Cockers appear to be at a reduced risk for contracting this disease. It is important to remember, however, that any breed can get Parvovirus.
TWO MAIN SYNDROMES OF PARVO:
1. Diarrhea Syndrome (Enteritis)
After an incubation period of 7-14 days, the first signs of parvo are severe depression with loss of appetite, followed by vomiting. The dog will appear to be in extreme pain with a tucked-up abdomen. Within 24-hours, a high fever develops (up to 106 degrees F) and profuse diarrhea that is frequently bloody. Mouth inflammation can also occur. Almost no other canine disease exhibits these symptoms.
2. Cardiac Syndrome (Myocarditis)
This form of canine parvo affects the heart muscle, especially in puppies less than 3 months of age. Puppies with this form stop nursing, cry out and gasp for air. Death can occur suddenly or in a few days. Puppies that recover will sometimes develop a chronic form of congestive heart failure that leads to death in weeks or months.
The success of treatment for parvo depends on the form and the severity of the CPV (Canine Parvo Virus) infection as well as the age of the dog. In puppies that are between 6- and 20-weeks of age, there is a 1-4 week interval when they are most vulnerable despite being vaccinated. This is because the maternal antibodies they received through their mother’s milk are declining and therefore no longer protective but still interfere with the vaccine.
Dogs that recover from parvo are immune to the disease.
How is Parvo Treated?
There is no treatment specifically for the Parvovirus at this time. Treatment is supportive care, which includes any or all of the following:
- Oral electrolyte fluids (ex: Pedialyte) – if the case is mild and the animal isn’t vomiting
- Subcutaneous (SQ) or intravenous (IV) fluids to maintain hydration to counter the extreme fluid losses from vomiting and diarrhea that are so typical with this disease. Many vets will provide this so you can administer this at home. It hydrates by bypassing the stomach.
- Anti-vomiting/nausea medications – to prevent further damage from vomiting and to keep the patient comfortable as possible.
- Antibiotics – because the virus has potential to slough the intestinal tract, antibiotics help protect against secondary infection.
- Blood or Plasma transfusions – to replace protein loss, provide antibodies, help with anemia.
For some perspective: a healthy dog drinks about 1/2 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. So a 10 lb dog would normally drink about 1 cup of water each day. If your pup has vomiting and diarrhea, the amount needed increases to make up for the loss.
Is There a Home Remedy?
To follow is a home remedy I stumbled on for treating canine parvo on the internet and wanted to reprint it in case anyone may need it. It addresses the biggest needs in a treatment: fluid and electrolyte replacement, and medication to control diarrhea and vomiting. Also read through the comments below this post. Many people have kindly shared what has worked for them.
This is an extremely hardy virus. It resists most household cleaners. The best disinfectant is Clorox (one part bleach to 30 parts water).. Here are some bleach alternatives.
My puppy had Parvo, he was only 8 weeks old, and just a few pounds. I took him to the vet and realized that it would be anywhere from 600-1500 dollars to cure him, even then he may not survive. So I looked up puppy parvo on Google.com for any alternatives, I found many things that people had tried, and they said it worked, so I chose the raw eggs, children’s Pedialite, and children’s pepto method. What you will need is the following;
* Eggs (enough to last several days)
* Children’s Pepto
* Instant rice
* Hamburger
* Children’s Pedialite (or Gatorade will work also)
* A Syringe for feeding
* You might also want to get puppy training pads or newspaperDirections
First take your dog and place him in a sterile dog cage, with the puppy pad or newspaper covering the bottom because there will be lots of throw up and lots of diarrhea. Then sterilize your whole home. I used a spray found in the pet area of WalMart, its called “Odo Ban.” It also smells really good. Then used bleach [1 part bleach to 30 parts water] on all hard floors and dog cage. After everything is clean, DO NOT let your puppy out of his/her cage until he is completely healed.Then I took a raw egg and blended it with a fork and put it in the Syringe and force fed him. I gave him 2 tablespoons of egg and 1 tablespoon of Pedialite every 4 hours for 3 days. I also gave him the children’s pill form of Pepto 3 times a day. I cut the pill in half and put it at the back of his throat. The serving size for your puppy may be greater depending on his size. I did this for about 3 days and until he was a lot more playful, and until his diarrhea was gone. (I also changed his pad every time he went potty and sterilized his cage every time to keep the parvo contained.)
After the 3 days was up I boiled instant rice and ground up hamburger and fed him 1/4 of a cup every four hours. (try this one time and wait to see if he can hold down the solid food. If its thrown back up, go back to eggs and pedielite for 2 more days. Then try it again.) After the first day of giving them the rice (and the puppy kept it down), try soft dog food the next day. If they keep that down, then you’re good to go, give them a sterile bath and they are now free to run around and play.
Why this works
This method works because puppy’s die from being dehydrated, not from the sickness itself, the key is keeping them from throwing up and healthy while the sickness goes away. They need lots of electrolytes. The Raw eggs for Nutrition, and pepto to keep there tummy’s calm. It worked for my little boy, and I hope it works for you. He is now the happiest little thing. Don’t forget to follow up with another vet visit to make sure all is well. Keep them in the house and off the outside ground for at least a week more just so you wont spread the sickness to any other dogs. Good luck i hope this helps you 🙂 Jessica F.P.S. My puppy is about 3 pounds, so there might me a slight change in feeding, Be sure not to over feed, were not trying to make them full, just enough to keep them alive.
Tip Source: Thrifty Fun website.
TAMIFLU FOR PARVO
A reader sent a tip suggesting that Tamiflu can be used to treat Parvo. From what I read, she is correct. Here’s more info about using Tamiflu to treat Parvo.
TESTIMONIAL FOR NEW PRODUCT
If you read through the comments below, you will see a testimonial from Angelica about a product she bought and used on her chihuahua/dachshund mix. And it worked for her! It’s called Parv-gone. I am not familiar with this product. If you are, let us know how it worked for you.
OTHER PRODUCTS
The following products have been suggested by readers.
PetAlive Parvo-K for Dogs for Canine Parvo Virus
- Immunizes your dog against parvovirus and helps protect against it
- Reduces symptoms of Parvo including fever and diarrhea and vomiting
- Is a 100 percent natural blend of herbal and homeopathic ingredients/li>
Amber Technology Paxxin Digestive & Immune Support for Dogs
- Soothe and heal the digestive system
- Stimulate appetite
- Calms the nervous system
- Lubricates, soothes, and protects internal mucous membranes
- More info on Parvaid
Companion™ Disinfectant Wipes effectively kills 99% of bacteria, virus, fungi including parvovirus, feline calicivirus, rotavirus, adenovirus type 2, hepatitis B virus and more.
- Clean and disinfect in one step
- Kills 99% of germs
- Effective against parvovirus
- Controls odors
- Ready to use
Note: Also read through the comments below. Many people have kindly shared what has worked for them.
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My two pups are siblings, they are German Shepherd and Blue nose pit mix, they both started two days ago throwing up and diarrhea, won’t eat or drink, I’m pretty sure it’s parvo. I can’t afford to take them to the vet so I’ve done what we’ve done many years ago for another litter. I started doing the raw egg, pepto, and Gatorade every 4 hours. I’m praying they both pull thru
My 12 wk old GSD started declining yesterday. I couldn’t get a vet appt so I went up there until I was seen today. I never thought he could have parvo, he’s had three rounds of shots so far. He tested positive and worm pos but was negative 7 days prior. He hasn’t had bloody stools or vomited too much but has completely stopped eating and lethargic. We did subQ IV / ponazuril / cerenia IJ at the vet. took my baby home with anti nausea meds / dewormer. Force feeding him raw eggs every 6 hrs and pedialyte every 3 hours. He’s completely exhausted. What can I expect moving forward?
I’m so sorry that your pup is going through this. But stay the course. Stick to your routine no matter what. This virus can take a week or more to get through and your puppy will likely look worse before he looks better. Don’t give up on him. He can’t do it without you.
Hydration is the most important thing. A healthy dog drinks about 1/2 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. For example, a 10 lb dog will normally drink about 1 cup of water each day. If your boy has diarrhea or is vomiting, he will be losing more liquids than a healthy dog, so that needs to be figured into what you are giving him.
Sometimes a dog who does not want to eat will eat Friskies Turkey-flavored canned cat food. I don’t know why, but that has been the case at my house. You might get a couple small cans and see if your boy will eat it. If so, keep his portions small and occasional until you know he won’t throw it up. Then slowly move him to either some rice and chicken or maybe canned dog food or even kibble softened with water.
Good luck.
My dog is 8 months old I’ve been giving him for a while now hes fine oneday but the next hes back to the same please help
Are you sure he has parvo? Could it be intestinal parasites? What are his symptoms?
If it is parvo, have you cleaned the areas he goes to: his bedding, the house, the yard, your shoes? If not, he may be getting re-infected. The virus can survive on clothing, equipment, on human skin, and in the environment. Indirect transmission occurs when a puppy comes into contact with a contaminated person, object, or environment.
It can survive indoors at room temperature for at least two months and is resistant to many commonly used cleaners and disinfectants. Outdoors, the parvovirus can survive for months, and even years, if protected from direct sunlight.
Here’s more info on cleaning & sanitizing after parvo: https://vetclinicmission.com/sanitizing-and-disinfecting-the-environment-after-parvovirus-in-dogs/
My girl Zuma I belive has parvo, no vet will see her as they belive its too far gone. Can you belive that?
I have been giving sub q fluids by a syringe I git from tractor supply and using bottle water. I also have been doing the above with the egg and electrolyte.
Her gums and inside of her ears where white . I thought I was going to loose her. But I’ve been doing the fluids and leftover antibiotics, and Zofran from my daughter’s last ear Inection. So far she seems to have parked up and color is returning to gums and ears. She has some bloody diarrhea but she seems to be doing better. She was just vaccinated back in December for parvo and it did not protect her. She dose have 4week old pups that we have separated from her and they all seem to be doing great.
Will post again in a few days. So thankful for this page.
Good for you and for your girl Zuma! Hydration is the most important thing. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, a dog can lose a lot of liquids. So keep at it for a bit longer even after she seems to be better.
Make sure your clean up the area where Zuma stays with some bleach solution. And clean where the pups are staying. They can easily pick up the virus if they visit the same yard where Zuma goes.
Keep us updated.
I’ve never had a problem with saving a dog or puppy from parvo until now. My wife and I have a very young not sure how young but is still being fed by bottle female pitbull named bunny she is usually so full of life and has the cutest personality I’ve ever seen in such a young pup, well she got sick the other day and we gave her sardines in oil with Pepto and dr pepper she pulled out of it and was back to her old self but just yesterday she slipped back into what I know now was parvo she lathargic so skinny and won’t keep anything down or even try to eat or drink so what she is forced to drink she spits out or throws up now her stool is runny and dark brown almost resembles blood I’m worried I won’t be able to save her she isn’t responding to anything I do feel r treatment what should I do my wife is so upset it’s horrible please help
Keeping Bunny hydrated is the most important first step. Ideally, if you had some sub-q fluids that you could administer under the skin, that would be great because that way you could bypass her stomach and hydrate her organs more directly. But the fluids require a prescription which generally means going to the vet. Maybe you have an understanding vet that will provide the fluids. Many do — after an office visit.
They can also send you home with some anti-nausea meds.
If that is not possible, then you must continue to force feed liquids — ideally something like plain Pedialyte. Perhaps in smaller more frequent doses. Create a schedule and stick to it no matter what. Figure out how much liquid she can keep down, even if it isn’t much, then give her that much hourly. Most dogs need about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day. So calculate your daily goal with that. With vomiting and diarrhea, this amount increases to cover the loss.
Don’t worry about food so much until you can get her hydration attended to.
Do not give up because she can turn the corner at any time and she may well look worse before she looks better. This can take a week, so progress may be slow.
Also clean all her bedding and minimize her activity.
The dark brown you see in her stools likely is blood. That is not unusual with parvo.
Keep us posted. And hugs to Bunny.
ps… you might read through the comments. People have contributed ideas that have worked for them. Just don’t try too many different things at one time as that can cause a whole other upset to her stomach. Keep it simple and consistent.
Well here’s the update on my 4 pups.
We lost both females to this terrible disease and both males survived it, But we aren’t quite sure it was parvo that the females had they had some symptoms but not all of them. I’m sure Octavia passed from it and Cora I’m not quite sure that she didn’t have the weight loss. And both male puppies made it threw it.
But to tell ya the truth one of the pups barely made it. And now its two days after since we got the fish amoxicillin 500 mg, PRE and probiotics Scooby our runt of the litter is just as happy as can be. We are now trying to get his weight back on him, but he’s up chasing his tail and lively as can be. But Thank you for your information on your experience with this disease if it wasnt for you info we might have lost them all. So thank you so very much
I’m so sorry to hear about Octavia and Cora.
We always tell people to create a schedule and stick to it no matter what because very often dogs with parvo look more dead than alive just before they turn the corner. And at that point, people might give up. Maybe that’s what you saw with one of the boys. Glad to hear about Scooby’s great progress.
Thanks for the update. Best to you all.
Isak; thank you for your post, I’ve been searching the web for home remedies to help treat my puppies for this nasty parvovirus and came across your post and seen that it had worked for you. I lost one puppy to this virus this morning around 4:30 Am. and I got frantic about loosing another one since I couldn’t pay for a vet due to I’m on SSI but anyways I’m trying your remedy out.
My puppy isn’t at the stage of throwing up yet, so I’m hoping I’ve caught it in time. So thank you so much I also have parvo-k and a probiotic and one other over the counter med coming from Chewy.com in hopes I don’t lose my boy they are 12 weeks old. But ill keep you all posted on my results. God bless all of you for sharing your info on this very deadly virus.
I’m sorry to hear your sad news. Good luck to you. Remember that if your pup develops diarrhea or begins to throw up often, you must look at hydrating him either by oral syringe or sub-q fluids.
Keep us posted. We are rooting for you both!
This remedy is great! I followed it step by step and consistency is key!! I have my now 5 yr female German Shepard ? and I’m so happy I was able to save her we love her so much ?. She had parvo when she was just 3 months old and seen the symptoms right away and jumped on it ASAP. Being a single mom of 2 and taking care of a pup that was sick was not easy but my “Olive” stayed strong ?? for us. Thank you for this and I hope it helps others.
Olive… great name. I’m so happy she pulled through! Great job! Yes, consistency is key.
Please help!!! My puppy was diagnosed with Parvo and he did get some medication,he started doing better and out of nowhere he started being lethargic again and refusing to eat and drink ,he also started having discharge from nose and breathing weird,this is second week that he is not so good,vet didn’t want to put him on Iv And I’m really trying to feed him and give him fluids,is there anything else I should do ,how long this Parvo last?Thank you in Advance!!
Have you contacted your vet about the recent change — the nasal discharge and breathing issues?
Parvo has to run a course. It’s often 5-10 days. During that time, you need to hydrate your puppy on a regular schedule, say once an hour around the clock. The amount depends on your puppy’s weight. Generally, a healthy dog will drink between ½ and 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. You can see that the amount they need each day will increase with vomiting and diarrhea. So adjust the amount you are giving based on this. It’s best to give a small amount hourly.
It is common for dogs to feel lethargic and not want food or water when they have parvo, but you must stick with a schedule for the fluids. Because they are not eating, pedialyte is good for the added electrolytes it provides. Without enough liquids, they can go into organ failure. There is less chance of them throwing up the liquids if they are given in small amounts on a frequent basis. The value of the iv fluids is that they bypass the stomach, so they will not be vomited out.
Dogs will often look a lot worse before they get better, so make a schedule and stick to it.
Hello,
I have a month old puppy, I took Yami to the vet two days ago and they said that we caught it early which is great. The vet gave him some injected fluids that lasted for a day, but didn’t give me a kit and also gave me anti nausea medicine. Also gave him a general antibiotic Currently 2 days after the visit, his situation is getting worse, this morning he laid out flat but began moving as soon as I gave him some more water and unflavored Pedialyte. It’s off to me because he hasn’t vommited or had any stool for the past two days, is that normal, a good sign or bad sign? I’ve been giving him wet food that I mix with water and forcing it with a syringe, but he doesn’t seem to like that at all. Should I switch over to bland foods instead? What do you think I should do…
It does seem odd that he has not had a bowel movement, but it would also depend on how much food he has had. Also if a dog is constipated, they may not eat because they feel full. This may be why he seems to not want what you are giving him. Also they do not want to eat if they have an upset stomach.
As for the bowel movement, add some plain canned pumpkin (no spices or flavorings) to the food you are giving him. The fiber in the pumpkin will level out the stool: if it is too hard, it will soften it; if it is too soft, it will firm it.
Generally, a healthy dog will drink between ½ and 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. You can see that the amount they need each day will increase with vomiting and diarrhea. So adjust the amount you are giving based on this. It’s best to give a small amount hourly. You can also ask your vet for a kit, though some do not provide them. What the vet injects lasts about a day, maybe a bit longer.
Puppies and dogs with parvo will often look worse before they look better, but don’t give up. Set up a schedule for feeding and liquids and stick to it no matter what your pup looks like. You never know when they will turn the corner and get better.
Hugs and best wishes to Yami!
Help us my puppy diagnosed with parvo. He stayed in vet. With iv. 24 hours now he vomited and diarrhea. Can we get back home so we can treat him in the house o he will stayed in vet. I want to try the pedialite or Gatorade
My apologies for the delay getting back to you. He’s home now with you?
Talk to your vet about your pup. Maybe the vet will provide you with sub-q fluids. These are administered via a needle just under the skin usually in the shoulder area. The advantage to sub-q over force feeding liquids is that they bypass the stomach and provide hydration more directly to the organs which is what your biggest need is at this point. The organs need to be hydrated to function. Many vets will do this with the sub-q fluids. Your vet may have also sent you home with antibiotics and anti-nausea meds.
Parvo has to run it’s course. Because of the vomiting and diarrhea associated with parvo, the most important thing is keeping your pup hydrated. In general, a healthy dog drinks about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day, so, for example, a 10-pound dog needs a bit over a cup (~10 ounces) of clean water daily. If your dog has vomiting and diarrhea you can see how this amount will need to increase. So I recommend you create a schedule for giving your dog fluids and some food and stick to it no matter what. Some pups can look a lot worse before they look better, so don’t give up.
We are on day 2 of parvo with our 8 week old border collie, she had her 1st shot. We have no idea how we brought this home.
She is on iv fluids 3 times a day, no more vomiting yesterday or this morning, only 1 time of diarrhea this morning.
I am looking for any and all home remedy ideas, I have apple cider vinegar in her water, she ate ever so slightly yesterday, chicken baby food and maybe 4 pieces of her kibble.
she does drink small amounts of water when we offer it, about 1 time an hour.
I am nervous to force feed her.
My vet is calling me this morning to check in, anything i can ask him for?
They gave a second parvo shot yesterday, now we wait.
I don’t know how long you have had your puppy, but she may have brought the parvo with her. It typically takes 3-5 days for the symptoms to appear, but it can take up to 14 days. If there is a chance she brought it with her, you might contact the people you got her from and let them know because if that’s the source, it would likely be that the other pups and any other dogs on the premises also have parvo.
Slow and steady is the course to take right now. If you try too many things, it can throw off the progress. Just like changing their food can cause soft stools, so will a lot of changes. So make changes in small quantities and gradually. You could go from the chicken baby food to boiled chicken and rice. The rice tends to firm stools. That she is drinking and eating on her own is HUGE! As long as she does this, try to not force feed her.
Parvo causes stomach upset. The iv fluids work because they bypass the stomach and keep the organs hydrated so they will function. Generally a dog with parvo will not eat or drink because it just makes them sick, so while your pup is eating and drinking on her own, I would just stay the course and see if she will continue to eat and drink. She may be drinking just small amounts of water because the iv fluids are hydrating her.
What is the shot she is receiving? Anti-nausea? Anti-biotic?
Thank you for the advice. I just came back from the vet and the cpv test is positive. He is not throwing up his foods that I am force feeding him. I think he is not dehydrated for now because his skin came back normaly if I try to pull it gently and his gums is color pink but he is still lethargic and from what I see is worsening. But I will not stop force feeding him. I feed pedialyte, raw eggs, honey throughout the day. Hope he will get better.
Maybe you’ve caught it early enough to spare your pup the worst. I hope so. I think the most important thing is creating a schedule for feeding/hydrating and sticking to it no matter what. Many dogs have reached a really difficult point, but they have turned the corner and pulled through. Best to you both.
Thank you for this post. Is it ok to replace pedialyte with coconut water instead?
Yes, you can give your pup coconut water, but now may not be the best time because it does have a bit of a laxative effect. It might be better to wait until he is back to being healthy.
It’s full of electrolytes that can help with hydration. It’s also full of nutrients like potassium, calcium and vitamin C. And you want to make sure the coconut water you’re giving your dog is natural without additives like sugar.
In general, it should be introduced gradually into your pup’s diet to see how his system reacts to it. It could increase his diarrhea if given too much at first. You might even freeze some, then crush it up to see if he will “eat” it.
I got my very first husky last 3 days ago. He is 5 months old. When he got home he was playful and active. I forgot to ask the previous owner what to feed him but I decided to feed him rice instead. The very first night I got him he started having loose stools ang begins to be loosening up even more after each poop. He also started vommiting later that night. The next day I observed and he was not active and more watery stools and vommiting everytime he tries to drink. He also dont want to eat. The next day we brought him to the vet and gave him antibiotics, med for his tummy and dewormed him. We also gave him 4ml of metoclopramide every 8hrs for his vommiting. He still dont want to eat. He drinks very small amounts of water and we force feed him 3ml of honey every 2hours. Next day he dont have any improvement. We continue his medication but tonight he had this red watery stool. I have an appointment tommorow to my vet but I am worried now. What can I do? Please help me.
Hydration is the most important issue. With diarrhea and vomiting, your pup is losing much more liquids than normal. This can cause organ failure. Veterinarians will usually put a dog on liquids to alleviate this problem. Some vets will send you home with sub-q kits so you can administer the liquids just under their skin yourself. By administering liquids, you are bypassing the stomach which could reject the liquids (vomiting) or pass them too quickly (diarrhea).
So keeping your pup hydrated is the most important thing right now. Create a schedule where you give your pup small amounts of liquid hourly. Small enough that he will hopefully keep them down. In general, a healthy dog needs about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day, so a 10-pound dog needs a bit over a cup of clean water daily. The amount increases with vomiting and diarrhea, but you can see what your target amount is. Calculate your target amount and divide it by the number of times you will administer it via oral syringe. That’s why I recommend doing this hourly. And stick to it! Write it down when you do it so you know when it’s time to do it again.
Concentrate on the liquids first. The pedialyte contains electrolytes that are beneficial. If you reach a point where he is holding the liquids down, you might add a bit of Gerber #2 (Second Stage/Babysitter) Chicken and Gravy to the oral syringe in place of one liquid. The food contains just chicken and water — no seasonings, no onion, etc.
If this is parvo, your pup could look worse before he looks better, but don’t give up. You are his best chance to beat this.
Just a note about honey: Honey is safe is small amounts, however raw honey should not be fed to puppies or dogs with compromised immune systems, as it may contain the presence of botulism spores.
Knowing how contagious this is I’m wondering what I should do ahead of time with my other dogs. I have one with Parvo now and I don’t think he is going to make it. I have several other dogs and I want to stop it before it gets to them. I have disinfected but my dogs stay at my feet constantly and have been while I’ve been trying to treat him. It has been a very tough and sad process for about 3 days now. I couldn’t bare watching another of my babies go through this horrible thing so what should I do to stop it now, before it gets to them ?
You should keep your older dogs separated from the one with parvo. It would help if you could keep the one with parvo in a dog kennel. If you have a large one, that might work best so your puppy can move around a bit and you have room to put a small bowl of food or water.
Then you need to clean the surfaces they share — floor, bedding, sidewalks, yard, etc. Sanitize the surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution: mix one part bleach with nine parts water.
Parvo spreads via contact with infected feces and/or vomit. Parvo generally incubates for five to ten days, meaning that five to ten days after a dog is exposed to the virus they will begin to show symptoms.
Stay strong and don’t give up.
I want to thank the person that freely offered these remedies and helpful tips. How kind you are my friend ?
I’m struggling to keep my little dog alive at this very moment and it isn’t looking so good. He’s continuing to have bloody diarrhea and his breathing doesn’t sound very good at all. He seems to be moaning with each breath and it’s ripping my heart out of my chest honestly. ?. I’ve been using a syringe all day giving him about a 1/2-1 tablespoon of water every couple hours. He has kept it down for the past 6 hours but I’m worried it’s not enough fluid.
I’m wondering if anyone can tell me what the fatal stage symptoms are because I’m also worried he may be there and I don’t know how to handle this emotional torcher watching him suffer this way. Please please anyone tell me what to do? He is moaning in pain and I don’t know how to help his pain
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. I don’t have an answer on fatal stage symptoms.
As a rule of thumb, dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. One tablespoon is approximately a half ounce. If he is throwing up or has diarrhea, the amount would increase because of the excess loss. A dog with parvo can look very bad before they turn the corner to better health.
Hydration is the most important thing, so stick with a regular regiment of hydration. You mentioned he is not throwing up. That’s good. Pedialyte would be great for the electrolytes in it. Also you might try some Gerber’s #2 Chicken and gravy in the syringe. It contains just chicken and water, no spices, onions, etc.
To tge person who wrote. This article you are a angel from heaven and helped me save my brand new pup banditts life he is 11 weeks old found out he had parvo at 10 weeks old and he was on brink of death and vets wanted me put him down well i was not putting him down i cared for him round clock day 7 and he seems to be just about himself again thank you thank you thank you
I am so happy you saved your boy!
Hi so i need to thank you so mich 7 days ago my puppy started puking having diarea and refusing to eat or drink
I was scared i took him to emergency vet paid 95 to be sent home still not knowing what was wrong and pup still not eating or drinking brought him back emergency room saturday and paid for parvo test came back positive 🙁
I was devasted and docs were telling me the only way he had a chance was if i had 1500 which i didnt so they tried to convince me to put him to sleep
I refused so they gave him a sub q and a shot to hold him over for a day ….i was so scared i started a go fund me account …did not get much off that got desperate decided to google how to treat at home and i started round the clock care with pedialite,raw egg,pepto,and chicken babyfood …slowly he started improving…today is day 7 and he has not thrown up for 51 hours has not had diarea since 10 am yesterday
Is eating boiled chicken n cooked egg tiny bit rice …drinking on his own and becoming his playful bitey self again …thank you so much for this info it saved my dogs life
P.s. i think the raw egg and pedialite are of most importance. …pepto helped to but pedialite n raw egg are miracles
GREAT NEWS! I am so happy to hear this! Hugs to you and your pup!
tamiflu is rx only will theraflu work also gonna try it im doing all i can hopefully this helps
NO, you should not use Theraflu. It contains Acetaminophen. Read this about Theraflu. Also, you want to set up a simple schedule. If you give your dog anything and everything you have, you can make him sick from the various meds. So keep it simple and consistent. Keep him hydrated regularly and try to get some protein-based food in him.
I have started a gofundme acct…the link is…Hi everyone, please click here to support my GoFundMe campaign, Dog w/ Parvo:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/dog-w-parvo.. before its too late im hoping to get him to the vet and need any and all help i can get please anything helps.. Thank You Andrew and Qayn Sutton.
or else they will be euthinizing him. Please help me save my best friend and sole companion.
need to talk to someone with knowledge preferably one who wrote this colomn..i have a 15 month blue nose pit..hes my therapy doh and due to someone else negeligence hes co tracted this virus…ive seen many dogs pass from it so im hoping this will work to save my loyalist and most bestest friend… i have questions i need help with money is an issue and i have no one but this article to help me…Andrew J. Sutton…
Hey Andrew. I’m so sorry to hear about your best buddy. The most important thing is keeping him hydrated. Parvo causes vomiting and diarrhea which depletes a dog of hydration. This can lead to serious organ problems. If you have/can find a veterinarian who will let you hydrate via sub-q fluids (iv) at home, that would be great. There are vets who will do that. Sub-q injection administers fluids under the skin bypassing the stomach but still hydrating the organs. Because it is under the skin, this liquid is not thrown up.
Make a schedule for feeding and hydrating… and stick to it no matter what because you do not know when your pup will turn the corner and start improving. Like any virus, it has to run its course, so bear that in mind and stay your course. Give him some fluids one hour, then some food the next hour. Do this in small amounts to see how well he keeps it down. You can space these out further once he starts holding it down.
In general, most dogs need about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day. So a 30 lb dog would need about 30 ounces a day. If he vomits this water or has diarrhea, this amount increases. Starting with what you know he needs, divide the amount by how many times a day you will administer ithe fluids — this is assuming you are administering the fluids via an oral syringe placed in his mouth and not sub-q. Alternate between liquids and food.
Read through the comments on this post, too. Sometimes people share what has worked for them.
Stick with your schedule no matter how your pup looks. Often they will look worse before they look better, so don’t give up.
Hello i came by this site thanks for the info, can u pls mention how many times a day can i give raw egg ? and if i use electrolytes how much should i give to an 8 weeks old puppy a day ? thank you.
The volume of liquids is based on weight. Most dogs need about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day, so an 10-pound dog needs about 10 ounces of fluids a day. If that same 10-pound dog is vomiting and has diarrhea, that amount would increase to accommodate for the loss. But the initial 10 ounces would be the target. This should be spread out over the day in small amounts as small amounts may be less likely to be thrown back up.
Eggs. Many dogs do not like the raw eggs and some people worry these days about the possibility of salmonella in “dirty” eggs, so proceed with that in mind. That said, given your pups young age, I would think one at day over the course of the day.
Good luck. Create a schedule — liquids this hour, some food the next hour, then liquids, etc. — and stick to it no matter what because dogs with parvo can look pretty rough before they turn that corner and start to feel better. Like most viruses, this can take a week to run its course before you see a change. But your wee one is certainly worth it.
Please I need some advise asap. I have an 8-9 week old puppy. She was a stray. We got her about 10 days ago, she was happy and playful, but last week on friday we took her to the vet and she tested positive. She didnt have the bloody diarrhea she was just throwing up but not blood just a yellow bile looking stuff.Well the vet kept her here it is sunday and she is still un responsive to the vets procedures on this disease. She is so weak. Should i bring her home and try this remedy on her or is it already to late. Please somebody I need help my puppy needs help. Thank you
I would bring her home. A dog can often be unresponsive for a week as the virus runs its course. Think of the flu or a cold — they don’t pass in a couple days. Plan a schedule and stick to it no matter what or how she looks because they often look worse before they look better. Maybe your vet will send you home with fluids you can administer under her skin. These bypass the stomach and directly hydrate her organs, so this is a good option. It’s what they do. So feed and hydrate her on a regular schedule all day and all night if you can. She can get through this.
Hello! My puppy (about to turn 1 yr this month) have parvo and been hospitalized since Friday (it is now Monday evening) the vets are telling me to consider putting him to sleep, but I dont want too…I am picking him up tomorrow and I will try the egg & pedialyte. I saw about Pepto, does that really work? Also I’ve seen some comments about baby food? What kind of baby foods? Someone please help me.
Hydration is the most important thing. If your puppy will not drink on his own, ask the vet if he/she can instruct you on giving sub-q fluids yourself. This is administered just under the skin via a syringe and bypasses the stomach yet hydrates the organs. This is likely what they are doing at the clinic. Many vets are fine with letting you do this at home and will provide you with the fluids and the kit you need. You can find videos online to see how it is done. It’s not hard.
Hopefully, they will send you home with some anti-nausea meds, too. These can help.
You need to develop a schedule for feeding and hydrating — maybe every hour, maybe every two hours depending on your pup — and STICK TO IT no matter how things seem. That is very important. A dog with parvo can look pretty bad just before it turns the corner and starts to feel better. So sticking to a schedule keeps you focused on the work and not on your pup.
The baby food must not contain onions. Gerber makes a Chicken and Gravy, Step 2 (2nd Food) also called Sitter. It is just chicken and water, no onions.
Pepto does help some dogs better than others. But introduce things slowly. Don’t give him a bunch of new stuff all at once. Do it in steps and slowly. If your pup’s stomach is upset, he will likely not want to eat on his own, so you will need to force feed him in small amounts. Small amounts will have a better chance of staying down than large amounts at one time. Force feeding will require an oral syringe (a syringe with no needle). The vet should provide that for you.
Pedialyte is also good because it contains extra electrolytes that regular water doesn’t have. You could alternate the food and pedialyte per your schedule.
Good luck. And don’t give up on him.
My 12 week old puppy was fine as of last night. We woke up tbis morning to him acting very down like he didnt feel good. Dry nose, warm ears, and diarrhea. We started giving him electrolyte solution via the mouth with a syringe because he would not eat or drink. By the end of the day he had like a mucus stool with just a tiny hint of blood and had vomited a few times. So I gave him a half of a children’s pepto pill. He is now up running around and playing, drinking water from his bowl acting as if this didnt happen. The only thing missing still is he wont take food yet but is showing interest in it. Stiffing, licking.. He went tinkle about 20 minutes after the pill. But no diarrhea and vomitting going on an hour and half now and hes just as normal as can be. I will continue to do as I have been. But… Could this even be the Parvo virus? The way hes up amd doing so well I just dont know
It could be, but given his young age and his quick rebound, it sounds like he may have eaten something that did not agree with him. The mucous that you saw occurs naturally as a protection in the digestive tract against stomach acids. It’s not usually obvious unless there is a digestive upset where a more than usual amount is excreted. The tiny hint of blood would not be unusual if his digestion was distressed. But keep an eye on him and his bowel movements just to be sure.
How do I know if my puppy is getting anything from the raw egg if she keeps throwing up right after I give it to her? She goes to drink water on her own (I put pedialyte instead of regular water) but she’s very lethargic and groans from discomfort I’m assuming. I’m giving her half of the pepto pill as well. I feel like she throws up all the egg I feed her.
If she vomits immediately after eating, there is a good chance she is not getting anything from the egg. If she is drinking somewhat on her own, you may try giving her some unsalted chicken broth (make sure it doesn’t contain ominous or garlic) in a separate bowl.
If she is small enough (because a small dog won’t eat as much as a larger dog), you could see if she will eat Gerber’s Baby 2 Chicken and Gravy — the ingredients are only chicken and water.
That she is drinking on her own is a good sign as dehydration is one of the most concerning parts of parvo. This virus takes time to get through. Imagine having a very bad flu with vomiting and diarrhea that lasts for a week or so. Stick with her.
My 1 year old Blue pit bull “Blu” passed away Tuesday from this and now our sweet 10 week old Blue pit “Gemma Emma” (Blu’s sister from a different litter) has it. The day Blu was sick we started force feeding Gemma raw eggs, pepto, antibiotics (i had left over adult stregnth) and pedialyte. She wouldnt eat at first but came around and was acting normal. Yesterday morning she was still acting normal but by the time i got home from work yesterday evening she wasnt doing well at all. I went to walmart and bought more of everything but also picked up a box of vitamin C packets (for immune system) 1000mg vitamin c so i mixed it with the pedialyte. She is still swallowing (which by time i caught it Blu had stopped swallowing and rejected anything) so thats a good sign but we gave her the last treatment at 1045pm i set an alarm to do it agaun at 1 and slept through. My daughter woke me up at 2 and there was bloody poop and vomit everywhere inside and outside her cage. My daughter bathed her and cleaned the cage while i watched more videos and this lady said to get the probiotics digestive and immune health capsules and mix the powder with the pedialyte and give it rectally. I jumped in the car at 230am and went on a mission for probiotics (again at walmart) got home and gave it to her [rectally]. (The lady said give it once wait 3 hours and give it again) I felt really bad for violating her and she seemed upset too. I set an alarm for 6 to do it again but again slept through the alarm and got up at 7 and NO POOP NO VOMIT!!!! So i gave her a syringe of pedialyte with antibiotics and then 2 more probiotics and pedialyte (rectally) jist got off the phone with my daughter and she is still not acting herself but she is wagging her tail, keeping everything down and not vomitting or having diarrhea any more. I will update as soon as i get home and see how she is doing.
I am so sorry to hear about Blu.
The most important thing to do right now is create a schedule for liquids/feedings and stick to it not matter how she looks. At this point, giving her fluids every hour or two is very important. As a rule of thumb, dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. When there is vomiting and diarrhea in the mix, the amount needed increases significantly. Without liquids, her organs could fail. This virus can take a week or longer to get through. So again, create a schedule and stick to it… even if she looks like she is doing better. Stick to the schedule past the point you think she is okay.
Also clean the house and her bedding thoroughly, even your shoes. Do you know where the virus came from?
Good luck. It sounds like your daughter is a great help. I’m glad she’s there for you and Gemme Emma.
The remedy for the ground hamburger is that raw or cooked?
Cooked, then dry off as much of the fat as possible. Maybe drain it on a paper towel and pat it dry with another paper towel. Good luck. The most important thing is to create a schedule and stick to it no matter what. You never know when your pet will turn the corner and start to rebound.
Oh I forgot I have give the mixture every 30 minutes for 5 hours then every hour for 2 days she seems to be doing a little better wagging her tail she also has not ate in 3 days and her vomit smells really bad it was clear with white mucus stuff in it now it is green and yellow also black from the charcoal I will keep y’all posted
Sounds like you have a plan! Just stick to it no matter what because sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Don’t give up.
Our best to your baby girl.
Good evening I have a 10month old red nose pit she caught parvo from our apartments the managers dog had it and died she has been vomiting all day non stop no pop at all today I am trying everything I can to help her I give her charcoal apple cider vinegar and pedialite every 30 minutes along with pepto as needed about every 2 hr and I SubQ an Iv fluid shot every hour of 6 to 12 MLs I feel awful for having to consistently sticking her with a needle but we have to save our baby girl Bella I PRAY TO GOD he saves her I will post back after we beat this cause she is a fighter and I know she will make it
Hi guys. Im on day 6 of at home treating my 3 month old for parvo. She had her first set of shots and still caught this nasty stuff. I never knew anything about parvo. I was taught if your dog got parvo you might as well put it down. Ive had 2 dogs die from parvo and i wasnt letting it happen to this baby! We took her to the vet and just for the parvo test it was a $100 visit. Im a mother of 3 and cannot afford what this vet was going to charge to save her life. So i started researching and actually came across this page and read alot of everyone’s comments. Thank you ALL! from me researching, and reading comments my dog is almost back to normal! Shes not eating on her own yet but she has been going and drinking water. I work a 8 hour job. So ive been getting up before i get my kids up for school, cleaning and replacing her puppy pads, giving her Pedialyte, pepto, a raw egg, puppy milk, and baby food in a syringe. 4 times a day ive been doing this. And its working! I just cant believe it. I hope everyone has a success story like i do!
Congrats!!! I am so happy for your pup and for your family. Great work on your part!