Signs Your Dog May Have Parvo (with Pictures)

An expert guide to diagnosing canine parvovirus

Co-authored by Palo Alto Humane Society and Devin McSween

Last Updated: September 23, 2024 Fact Checked

Parvo Symptoms

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Diagnosing Parvo

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Canine parvovirus infection (also called “parvo”) is a highly contagious and fast-acting gastrointestinal disease that has a high mortality rate.^{[1]
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Research source} Puppies are most susceptible to getting parvo, though unvaccinated adult dogs can catch it, too. If you’re concerned that your dog might have parvo, look for signs of the disease like lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stool. Then, immediately take your dog to the vet for a diagnosis. Your vet will run through tests to determine if your dog has parvo and provide a plan for treatment.

Parvo Symptoms in Dogs

Nausea and vomiting: Your dog may lose their appetite or struggle to hold down food and water. Look for frequent vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stool.
Fever: Check your dog for a fever (higher than 101°F (38.3 °C)).
Anemia: Press on your dog’s gums—if they don’t quickly return to their normal color, your dog may be anemic.
If you see symptoms of parvo in your dog, take them to a veterinarian immediately and ask your doctor to do an ELISA test and white blood count.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Recognizing the Symptoms of Parvo

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1
Monitor your dog for lethargy or a lack of appetite. The first sign of a parvo infection is typically lethargy. Your dog may become less active than normal or even seem depressed, eventually retreating to a corner and staying put.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.} You might also notice that they don't have much of an appetite and seem weak.^{[3]
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- Parvo usually progresses quickly. Lethargy is often quickly followed by vomiting and diarrhea.
2
Watch for signs of a fever. Dogs infected with parvo usually develop a high fever.^{[4]
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Research source} Signs of fever might include warm ears or a warm nose and red eyes.^{[5]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source} Use a rectal thermometer or an ear thermometer to take your dog's temperature. If it's higher than 101–102.5 °F (38.3–39.2 °C), they have a fever.^{[6]
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- Any change in temperature can be a sign of parvo. Some dogs might have a lower-than-normal body temperature, instead.^{[7]
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Pay attention to vomiting. Parvo attacks the rapidly dividing cells that line the stomach and intestines. This typically causes your dog's stomach to become irritated and ulcerated, which can lead to severe vomiting.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.}
- Your dog might have trouble holding down food and water, which can quickly lead to severe dehydration and malnourishment. If not treated quickly, this can lead to shock or even death.
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Watch for diarrhea and bloody stool. Dogs infected with parvo typically have upset stomachs and diarrhea. The diarrhea is often severe and has an unpleasant and distinctly sickly-sweet odor.^{[10]
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Research source} The stool also frequently contains blood.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.} If you see this, take your dog to the vet right away.^{[12]
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- Parvo is usually transmitted through contact with an infected dog’s feces.^{[13]
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Check for signs of anemia. Parvo causes gastrointestinal bleeding, which can lead to anemia.^{[14]
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Research source} To see if your dog might be anemic, press down on their gums. A healthy dog’s gums will quickly return to their normal color after about 2 seconds. If it takes longer, your dog may be anemic.^{[15]
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- Anemia may also lead to a noticeable paleness of your dog’s gums.
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Be especially mindful of parvo if you have a puppy. Although parvo can affect older dogs, puppies between 6 and 20 weeks of age are most vulnerable. Parvo is especially serious in puppies because their immune system hasn't fully developed yet. In addition, vaccination may not be fully effective until your puppy is between 14 and 16 weeks old because antibodies in their mother's milk can interfere with the vaccine.^{[16]
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- It can be hard to spot the early signs of parvo in a puppy, which unfortunately means the mortality rate can be high for younger dogs. Pay close attention to any changes in their behavior and take them to the vet if you think anything's amiss.^{[17]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ray Spragley, DVM
  Veterinarian
  
  Expert Interview. 19 February 2021.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Diagnosing Parvo

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Unfortunately, parvo is fast-acting—it can be fatal in just 48 to 72 hours after the first symptoms appear. Getting your dog to the vet quickly improves their chances of recovery.^{[18]
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Ask your vet to do an ELISA test. To diagnose parvo, your veterinarian may perform the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) test. This test checks your dog’s stool for evidence of parvo. It can be done in your veterinarian’s office, and the results typically come back in about 15 minutes.^{[19]
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- The ELISA test gives rapid results but can result in false positives. Your vet may recommend further testing, like taking a white blood cell count or sending a sample to a lab.
- On the other hand, more testing to confirm parvo may not be necessary. Parvo causes severe illness which is managed with supportive care rather than a cure. So, it is not always necessary to run diagnostic tests.
Since ELISA tests sometimes come back with false positives, your vet may also check your dog's white blood cell count. Parvo attacks a dog's bone marrow, so a low white blood cell count is usually a good indicator that your dog has parvo—especially in combination with a positive ELISA test.^{[20]
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Wait for lab results if your vet does a PCR test. In a PCR test, your vet sends a fecal sample from your dog to a lab for testing. The results of this can confirm whether your dog has parvo.^{[21]
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- This takes longer than an ELISA test, but the results are typically more accurate.
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Follow your veterinarian’s suggestions for treatment. There is currently no cure for the parvovirus. However, your veterinarian can recommend supportive therapies and practical measures that help increase your dog’s odds of recovery. These might include:^{[22]
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- Hospitalization
- Intravenous fluids
- Blood transfusion
- Anti-vomiting medication
- Anti-diarrheals
- Antibiotics

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can older dogs get parvo?

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Ray Spragley is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the Owner/Founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care PLLC in New York. With experience in multiple institutions and private practices, Dr. Spragley’s specializations and interests include non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament tears, Intervertebral Disk Disease(IVDD), and pain management in osteoarthritis. Dr. Spragley holds a BS in Biology from SUNY Albany and has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) through the Canine Rehab Institute as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) through Chi University.

Ray Spragley, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Yes, but it's pretty rare and unlikely, especially if they've been vaccinated. You almost always see parvo in puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months of age.

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Question

What does parvo poop look like?

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Ray Spragley is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the Owner/Founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care PLLC in New York. With experience in multiple institutions and private practices, Dr. Spragley’s specializations and interests include non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament tears, Intervertebral Disk Disease(IVDD), and pain management in osteoarthritis. Dr. Spragley holds a BS in Biology from SUNY Albany and has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) through the Canine Rehab Institute as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) through Chi University.

Ray Spragley, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

A dog with parvo is going to have severe diarrhea, and it should be immediately obvious that your dog isn't defecating normally. There's also going to be blood in their stool.

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Question

How can I treat my dog at home for parvo?

Ray Spragley, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Ray Spragley is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the Owner/Founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care PLLC in New York. With experience in multiple institutions and private practices, Dr. Spragley’s specializations and interests include non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament tears, Intervertebral Disk Disease(IVDD), and pain management in osteoarthritis. Dr. Spragley holds a BS in Biology from SUNY Albany and has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) through the Canine Rehab Institute as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) through Chi University.

Ray Spragley, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

You can't. If you suspect your dog has parvo, you need to take them to a vet immediately.

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Tips

Vaccination is the only way to prevent your puppy from getting parvo. The first shot can be done as early as 5 to 6 weeks of age. It then needs to be repeated every 2 to 3 weeks, for a total of at least 3 shots.^{[23]
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Reduce the risk of parvo by keeping your puppy with vaccinated adults and away from dog parks, kennels, and pet stores as much as possible until they’re vaccinated.^{[24]
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Some dog breeds are more vulnerable to parvo, including Rottweilers, American Pitbull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherds. If your dog belongs to one of these groups, be particularly vigilant in watching for parvo.^{[25]
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Warnings

Do not attempt to treat parvo on your own. Even when dogs receive high-quality veterinary care, the virus can be fatal; trying to treat parvo on your own is much too risky.

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If you have multiple dogs, isolate your sick dog immediately and keep your other dogs out of the contaminated area. Parvo can be spread by the infected dog's feces, so you'll need to disinfect the area thoroughly before it's safe for your other animals.^{[27]
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