Canine parvovirus (CPV or more commonly known as "parvo") is one of the most serious viruses that dogs can contract.
The virus was discovered in 1967 and quickly became a serious threat to canine health. This is mainly because the virus is difficult to kill, can survive in the environment for a long time, and is excreted in large numbers by infected dogs.
The virus is also highly contagious, which is why the parvo vaccine is considered a core vaccine for puppies and dogs.
When your puppy just arrives at home, you can easily check its health with test strips.
While the highly effective parvovirus vaccine has decreased the risk to properly vaccinated dogs, this disease is unfortunately still widely prevalent, especially in puppies and adolescent dogs.
How is parvovirus diagnosed in dogs? Is there a Parvo test?
A fecal ELISA test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is the most common method for diagnosing dogs with parvovirus in a clinical setting.
The test requires a stool swab and takes about 10 minutes.
While the test is accurate, a negative result does not necessarily rule out parvovirus in symptomatic dogs, as they may not have shed viral antigens when tested. Further testing may be required in these cases.
Therefore, you can usually prepare test kits for regularly monitoring your dog's health!