Parvo is a very contagious virus that hits puppies hardest. Watch for tiredness, not eating, vomiting and diarrhea, often with blood. If your puppy is not fully vaccinated and shows these signs, call a vet today. Most deaths happen within 2 to 3 days of signs starting. With proper treatment, survival can approach 90%.
When to call the vet
- Call today: tired, not eating, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen belly
- Go now: blood in poop or vomit
- Go now: vomiting again and again, or can't keep water down
- Go now: very weak, cold or hard to wake
The quick guide
Tiredness
Your puppy sleeps much more than usual, won't play, or lies back down when picked up. This is often one of the first signs.
Not eating
Your puppy refuses food, even a favorite, or eats and then vomits.
Vomiting
Vomit may be clear, yellow or brown. Vomiting often starts within a day or two of the first vague signs.
Diarrhea, often with blood
Runny poop, often bloody, with a strong smell. Bloody diarrhea is an emergency sign.
A swollen or painful belly
Your puppy may flinch or tense up when you touch the belly.
Fever, or a cold body
Some puppies run a fever and some get cold. Only a thermometer can tell you. Red eyes, warm ears or a dry nose can't confirm a fever.
Dehydration
Vomiting and diarrhea drain fluids fast. A dehydrated puppy gets weak quickly.
What to do in the next hour
- Call the vet and say you think it could be parvo. Ask whether to wait outside, so other dogs at the clinic aren't exposed.
- Keep your puppy away from other dogs, at home and on the way.
- Bring your puppy's vaccine record if you have one.
- Keep your puppy warm.
- Wash your hands and change your clothes before you touch other dogs.
- Ask the vet before giving any food, water or medicine.
Watch: the 7 signs
Our most-watched parvo post walks through the signs in one minute.
Can a dog survive parvo?
Yes. Many people in our comments thought surviving parvo was rare. It isn't, when a puppy gets treatment early.
With proper treatment, survival can approach 90%. The Merck Veterinary Manual puts it at 70 to 90% with supportive care. Without treatment, about 90% of puppies don't survive. Getting to a vet quickly matters more than anything else.
My dog is a parvo survivor.
How vets treat parvo
No medicine kills the virus. Vets keep the puppy going while its own immune system fights the virus off. That usually means fluids for dehydration, medicine to stop vomiting, and medicine to prevent other infections. Many puppies stay in the clinic for several days.
Vets test for parvo with a quick poop test. Early on, the test can come back negative even when a puppy has parvo. If your puppy still seems sick after a negative test, ask about testing again.
My first furbaby was died because of parvo, but the first check up was negative.
If you can't afford a vet
You're not alone. This came up again and again in our comments.
- Call a vet anyway. Ask the price before you go, and ask whether they offer outpatient treatment. That's when the vet gives fluids and injections and you care for your puppy at home. The Merck Veterinary Manual reports about 80% success for outpatient plans, compared with over 90% for hospital care.
- Ask about payment plans. Ask your local government vet office or an animal welfare group whether they offer lower-cost care.
- Don't rely on eggs, sugar, tea or dextrose powder as a cure. No food or drink kills the virus.
- Don't give human medicines or leftover pet medicines unless a vet tells you to.
parvo virus killed my dog because we don't have money for vet
Other dogs at home, and getting a new puppy
Parvo spreads through poop. Even a trace on shoes, hands, bowls or floors can infect another dog. The virus is hard to kill. Indoors it can last at least 2 months. Outdoors, out of the sun, it can last months or even years.
- Keep sick dogs away from other dogs, especially puppies.
- Clean up all poop and vomit, then disinfect with diluted bleach. The Merck Veterinary Manual uses 1 part bleach to 30 parts water. Ask your vet what is safe for your floors and yard.
- Before bringing a new puppy home, ask your vet how long to wait, and make sure the new puppy's vaccines are under way.
How to prevent parvo
The parvo vaccine works. Puppies usually start at 6 to 8 weeks, get another dose every 2 to 4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old, then a booster at 6 months or 1 year. After that, it's usually every 3 years. Your vet will set the exact plan.
Until your puppy's vaccines are complete, avoid places where lots of unknown dogs go, like parks, pet shops and kennels.
If you lost a puppy to parvo
Parvo moves fast, and many owners only learn its name after their puppy is gone. Losing a dog was the most common thing people shared under our parvo posts. A virus that hides its early signs is not your fault. Before another puppy comes home, clean thoroughly and talk to your vet about timing and vaccines.
Related: why dogs throw up and what dog poop colors can mean.
Common questions
How fast does parvo kill?
Most deaths from parvo happen within 48 to 72 hours after signs start. That's why same-day vet care matters.
Can I treat parvo at home?
Not safely on your own. Some vets offer outpatient treatment, where they give the fluids and medicines and you care for your puppy at home. Ask about it if hospital care isn't possible.
Do eggs, sugar or tea cure parvo?
No. No food or drink kills the parvo virus. Treatment supports the puppy while its immune system fights the virus.
My puppy tested negative but still seems sick. What now?
Early in the illness, the quick poop test can miss parvo. Ask your vet about testing again.
Can a vaccinated dog get parvo?
It's rare, but a small number of vaccinated dogs never build full protection. Puppies who haven't finished their vaccine series are at much higher risk.
When is it safe to bring a new puppy home after parvo?
The virus can stay in a home for months. Clean and disinfect, then ask your vet how long to wait and check that the new puppy is vaccinated.
Veterinary sources
- American Veterinary Medical Association: Canine Parvovirus (client brochure, 2020) ↗
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Canine Parvovirus Infection ↗
- American Kennel Club: Parvovirus in Puppies ↗
Medical note: This guide is educational and cannot diagnose your dog. A veterinarian who can examine your dog is the right person to give medical advice.