Why Do Puppies Get Parvo?
Puppies are generally vaccinated against Parvo at approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Puppies aged 6 weeks or younger may still have some of their mother’s antibodies, if she received her complete series of parvo vaccinations. This is why puppies between ages 6 weeks to 6 months are the most susceptible to parvo. Puppies within these ages are more vulnerable to the condition until they have received all the three shots in their vaccination series, which means owners need to be more careful and take extra precaution during this time to ensure their puppies don’t contact the virus. It is important for puppies to get a dose of canine parvovirus vaccine between 14 and 16 weeks of age, irrespective of the number of doses they received earlier, so they can have enough protection.
The severity of the symptoms of parvo viruses depends on multiple factors. For example, studies show that the stress of weaning can result in more severe cases of parvo in puppies, because stress weakens the immune system. Studies also show that a combination of parvo and a secondary infection or a parasite can also cause more severe cases of parvo in puppies,
Studies also show that certain breeds of dogs are more likely to develop parvo, including:
- Rottweilers [1]
- Doberman Pinschers [2]
- American Staffordshire Terriers [3]
- English Springer Spaniels [4]
- German Shepherd Dogs [5]
- Labrador Retrievers [6]