| Information on Canine coronavirus |
| Although attacking the intestinal lining and producing symptoms similar to parvovirus, coronavirus does not produce the severity of sickness seen in parvo. Corona is spread by the feces of infected dogs. Contact with stool from a dog infected in the past several months or the ground near such an infected fecal specimen can make your pet sick. UNLESS... you have maintained your pet on an annual vaccination regimen. Yearly vaccines boost your dog's resistance to such contagious viruses as corona. Puppies received their initial immunity from their mother's milk. Should the milk become unavailable or in the period immediately following weening, the puppy's own immune system will begin to take over. Vaccines such as the DHLPP-Corona direct the immune system to develop resistance to a variety of contagious diseases. At what point the mother's conferred immunity ceases to protect a puppy and the dog's own system begins to operate as the primary source of protection is difficult to pinpoint, however. That is one of the reasons puppies are revaccinated every three to four weeks. How can I tell if my pet is suffering from a coronavirus infection? The primary symptoms of corona -- vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite -- are similar to those found in more deadly parvovirus infections and the much more common (though hardly life-threatening) gastroenteritis, or irritated bowels. The first rule-out for veterinarians is, therefore, parvo. Adult dogs rarely contract parvo: other causes for the vomiting and diarrhea are more likely, such as stress or a dietary indiscretion. With sick puppies it is prudent to perform a parvovirus test. At Indian Hills, parvo results can be obtained on-site in a matter of minutes. By obtaining a patient history from you, the client, and performing a thorough examination on your pet, our veterinarians can begin to isolate the cause of your pet's ails and prescribe medications to assuage the symptoms. Don't take chances: if your pet is sick, visit the clinic. You'll feel better and so will your dog! |
| more vaccination info on dogs |