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I slept in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn. Parvo is a single stranded 32 nanometer DNA icosahedral virus that infects fast growing cells. Puppies are susceptible because their cells are fast replicating and the viral DNA can incorporate into the cells easily. The vaccine is 80% effective and some dogs get Parvo no matter what due to their genetic makeup (Rottweilers/Dobermans)and cell receptors. The bloody diarrhea and vomiting is due to the senescence of the cells being infected with the virus. Treatment includes antibiotics, colloidal suspensions (hetastarch/plasma), and fluid and electrolyte replacement. Most clinics have a fairly good success rate in treatment if instituted early. If one waits till the pup is comatose, shocky and septicemic, the success rate is not too good. Vaccinating puppies beginning one week post weaning and every 17-21 days until 4 months of age will provide adequate immunity in most cases. Stress and concurrent disease in the puppy will sometimes compromise the vaccine protection and the pup will come down with the disease. Dogs over the age of a year get parvo rarely because the cellular replication process is no longer rapid and the virus cannot replicate easily. Parvo, Norwalk agents, Norviruses are all in the same viral family. Mutation is rare but does occur with the Canine Parvovirus every thirty or some odd years into other species. Aleutian Mink Disease 1930 Feline panleukopenia 1978 Canine Parvovirus..all three of these are closely related and resultant of mutations from one species into another.

a while back I remember reading a post on a pet forum from an puppy owner who lost their new pup to parvo. I can't recall all the details, but remember the reply instructed the pet owner to bleach all areas in the home the puppy had come in contact with, and also not to bring another puppy in the house for a number of months since it also could be exposted since the virus lingers for some time.