Parvovirus in Dubai: How to Prevent the Potentially Deadly Disease

Being a dog owner in the UAE, there are a few things we must be continually aware of to protect our furry friends throughout the year. From preventing heatstroke, to protecting their paws from burning on hot floors, there are measures we must take to ensure our pups have a good quality of life. This includes vaccinations! 

Earlier least year, Dubai saw a spike of pups being tested positive for the potentially deadly disease, Parvovirus (CPV), or Parvo – for short. Unfortunately, this disease can see a rise cases when a number of unvaccinated puppies are imported into the UAE by breeders.

What is canine Parvovirus?

The virus is a contagious viral illness, most commonly detected in intestinal form. It can affect both puppies from around six weeks to six months old, and elderly dogs that are not vaccinated, or have a compromised immune system. 

Ultimately, the virus attacks the dog’s ability to absorb nutrients, quickly leading to dehydration. 

In other cases, CPV may attack in cardiac form, affecting the heart muscles of very young puppies, which often leads to death. 

Parvo is spread in Dubai through direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the faecal-oral route and cannot be passed onto humans. 

What are the symptoms? 

The most common signs of intestinal form are: 

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea 
• Weight loss 
• Lack of appetite 

If your dog displays any of these, take them to a vet immediately. 

How to prevent your dog getting CPV

The best way to prevent this disease is to follow the correct vaccination protocol advised by your registered vet, and wait two weeks post dose before going outside. 

The virus is so contagious that even if your pup simply sniffs another dog’s stool, it can catch the disease. Which is why it’s SO important to pick up after your dog!