When Cookie, a tiny Pitbull mix puppy, fell seriously ill at eight weeks old, her owners rushed her to The Fix Project, a special California clinic dealing with parvovirus cases. Sadly, Cookie was diagnosed with canine parvovirus, a deadly disease primarily affecting young puppies.
91% Death Rate if Untreated
Canine parvovirus is highly contagious and often fatal, especially for puppies who haven’t had all their vaccinations yet. If left untreated, it can kill up to 91% of infected dogs; about 900 cases are diagnosed daily in the United States.
The symptoms of parvovirus are distressing, including things like extreme tiredness, bleeding in the gut, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and even shock. Until recently, all the best veterinarians could do was to try to ease these symptoms. Still, they couldn’t cure the virus, and many dog owners faced terrible decisions and expensive medical bills.
Good News: An Effective Antibody Treatment
However, there’s some good news on the horizon. Elanco Animal Health, a company that makes animal medicine, has developed the first-ever targeted treatment for parvovirus. They call it the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody treatment.
In tests, this new treatment worked well. None of the dogs treated with it died, and it also helped make the symptoms disappear faster. This meant that dogs didn’t have to stay in the hospital for as long, which was a relief for both the dogs and their owners.
So, how does this treatment work? It’s given as a single dose through a vein and goes straight to the virus, stopping it from causing more harm. This means that dogs can start feeling better sooner and return home to their families faster.
Dr. Jennifer Miller, a veterinarian at Elanco, explained why this treatment is such a big deal. She said, “Before, we could only try to help the puppies with their symptoms. But now, we have something that can fight the virus and stop it from making the puppies sicker.”
Spread the Word
Even though the treatment won’t get its full approval until 2024, veterinarians can already use it. Dr. Miller believes it’s crucial to inform people about this treatment, especially since many dog owners don’t know what parvovirus is.
One of the clinics using this treatment is The Fix Project, and they’ve seen some fantastic results. Dr. Alex Cabrera, a vet there, said the treatment has made a big difference. They can start using it as soon as a dog tests positive for parvovirus, which means they can send dogs home a lot sooner.
Traditionally, parvo treatment took much longer and was more expensive. But thanks to this new treatment, dogs like Cookie have a better chance of getting better and returning to their families quickly.
A Chance to Celebrate More Happy Endings
This groundbreaking treatment doesn’t just change the lives of the puppies and their owners; it also makes a big difference to the vet teams. They can celebrate more happy endings and spend less time in intensive care, which is a big win for everyone involved.
This groundbreaking treatment brings hope to dogs and their owners battling parvovirus. It’s a big step forward in the fight against this disease, bringing joy to pet lovers.
The post A Puppy-Killing Virus Stopped in Its Tracks – A Highly Effective Anti-viral Treatment for Parvovirus Is Found first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Evgeniy Kalinovskiy