Oh no! you know that smell. Yes “That” smell. Nothing else is quite like it. You open the door, and the odor of parvovirus knocks you a step back. Consider yourself fortunate if you have never had this experience. But if you have, you know you and your pups are in big trouble.
Written By: Marty Greer
Parvovirus (parvo) is a devastating disease, primarily affecting young pups under 18 weeks of age. However, some older dogs, even when they have received vaccinations, can be affected if their immune system did not respond appropriately to the vaccination or if there are other factors such as a heavy intestinal parasite load causing debilitation of the dog.
Parvovirus 2 symptoms affect the entire body, with loss of appetite, vomiting and bloody diarrhea being the most well-known symptoms. The virus affects the most rapidly dividing cells in the body, which are in the intestinal tract and bone marrow. This means the immune system is suppressed, with seriously affected dogs showing profoundly low white blood cell counts. The intestinal tract lining is affected by these rapidly dividing cells becoming damaged, causing these cells to slough. This allows bacteria that would normally be confined to the intestinal tract to invade the body, causing sepsis. At this point, the pups become lethargic and can run a fever. The damage also prevents the absorption of food and water, and causes bloody diarrhea. This is the source of the characteristic odor so well associated with parvo. In a few cases, the heart can also become damaged.
In a word, vaccination with the right product at the right time. But excellent gut health, using appropriate deworming, diet, adjustment to new water and environment, and hygiene are essential in contributing to viral resistance.
Parvo is diagnosed based on a fecal swab test, demonstrating the proteins of the parvo test. On blood work, the pups most profoundly ill have very low white blood cell counts. If a pup dies from parvovirus, the diagnostic laboratory can either identify the presence of the parvovirus proteins or see the characteristic loss of intestinal lining cells on post mortem microscopic examination.
Since canine parvovirus 2 hit the scene in 1979, over 40 years ago, the only tools veterinarians have had have been vaccines and supportive care. There has not been a cure in our tool box. Until now. KindredBio and Elanco Animal Health have developed a new product that promises to be a game-changer.
But now, there is a revolutionary treatment option, one that has JUST come to market. Yes, a 1 dose, IV infusion of a monoclonal antibody that will stop parvovirus is its tracks. A great step forward in managing viral diseases.
In our veterinary practice in Lomira Wisconsin, we are so excited about this treatment that we volunteered our own personal dogs to be in the clinical trial in 2022. Dr. Griffiths and myself personally injected all 30 of our dogs and pups with this product, to help the manufacturers verify safety and efficacy needed for the USDA to allow conditional approval of this product. This was followed with careful testing and observation of our pups and dogs.
So for those of you who are hesitant to look to new options, let this give you faith in the project. Our beloved pups, as young as 6 weeks of age, received this injectable monoclonal A antibody, some by subcutaneous injection and some by IV injection. One little puppy whimpered briefly after the injection – no other adverse events were noted.
Since some of our dogs are Pembroke Welsh Corgis, you know that IV catheter placement on a crooked, short-legged dog, is no fun for us or for the pups. But this is a simple problem to work around. Most importantly, our pups carried antibodies out to 24 weeks of age, many weeks further than you would expect from maternal antibodies, showing the length of time the product effectively blocked the effects of parvovirus.
Canine parvovirus is still one of the most serious infectious deadly viruses we see in our dogs in the United States. It far outpaces canine distemper virus as a cause of death. The mortality rate for unprotected dogs is as high as 91% if untreated. Over 900 cases a day are diagnosed in the US, topping 330,000 cases annually.
Are we excited about this new product? You bet we are. And do we believe it is safe and effective? Absolutely! Is it going to be cost effective for you to have administered to your pups if they are exposed or become ill? I believe the answer will be yes, based on how effective the product is. It WILL shorten the course of the disease and it WILL save lives. The cost will be impacted by how advanced the disease is by the time the product is administered. The sicker the pups, the more supportive care they will need. The larger the pup, the more vials required to treat. A minimum of one vial is required for treatment – small pups may share a vial, but the product cannot be refrozen after it is thawed. However, by shortening the course of the disease, the cost of in-hospital or outpatient care will be reduced. Additionally, the reduction in emotional distress of the owner of the pups is difficult to quantify and measure.
While preventive vaccines and appropriate deworming and diet protocols (to improve gut health) are still essential in preventing parvovirus infections, there are cases where this has not been effective. Increasing the number of vaccines administered is not a solution. It is important that you work with your veterinary professionals to establish the ideal vaccination and deworming plan for your kennel. Your veterinary team knows better than anyone what your specific needs are for preventive care. This product is not intended to be a substitution for appropriate use of vaccines and dewormers at appropriate intervals. And it cannot substitute for a diet, probiotic, and hygiene removing feces, and appropriate use of disinfectants applied according to label directions. But it will save the lives of pups who fall through the cracks between the termination of protective maternal antibodies and their ability to develop their own antibodies in response to well-timed, appropriately administered vaccines. Not all pups and adult dogs can respond to vaccines against parvovirus and other viral diseases. Maternal antibodies can block vaccines from creating immunity. Some dogs do not respond to certain vaccines. If vaccines are given too close together or the quality of the vaccine is compromised, the pup may fail to respond. Remember, vaccination does not guarantee an adequate immune response. Parvovirus is not a predictable disease. The toll it takes financially and emotionally on the pet owners and veterinary team members is immeasurable.
Monoclonal antibodies are proteins produced in a laboratory that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off dangerous diseases. Our dogs are not the first species to have this new technology used on them. During Covid-19, some human patients received monoclonal antibodies. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) had a monoclonal antibody treatment available in limited quantities. The canine Parvovirus Monoclonal antibody treatment from KindredBio and Elanco is the only USDA conditionally approved treatment that can specifically target canine parvovirus. The monoclonal antibodies work by blocking the virus before the virus enters and damages the intestinal cells.
Use in clinical trials to date showed that zero dogs treated died. Additionally, this treatment shortened the course of the disease. Of course, supportive care with antibiotics, fluid therapy, and anti-vomiting medications are still required. Some pups need their blood glucose (sugar) levels supported. But saving the pups and shortening their course of treatment not only saved money, but saved them from extended suffering during recovery.
“KIND-030”, a monoclonal antibody targeting canine parvovirus (CPV), is being used for two indications: Prophylactic therapy to prevent clinical signs of CPV infection, and treatment of established CPV infection.
While this product is highly effective in saving the lives of pups, it should NOT be a substitute for age-appropriate and well-chosen vaccinations, deworming, and hygiene protocols.
With any product, there is the possibility of injection site and allergic reactions. In our experience and the data from the manufacturer, these are few and far between and relatively minor.
Absolutely – I have already stocked it in my freezer. Have I used it yet? Fortunately, no not yet. It does require careful shipping on dry ice and storage in a deep freeze. And it requires IV (intravenous) injection, which limits the use of this by non-veterinary staff. But the immense value in saving lives will be worth the tradeoff on treatment costs.
I hope you never need this product, but rest assured, if you open that door someday and “that smell” hits you, reach your veterinary professionals immediately who can provide this product to save your puppies. And thank the veterinary professionals who had the wisdom and will to envision, develop, and use this novel product to provide your pups this life-saving option.
Marty Greer, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, has 35+ years’ experience in veterinary medicine, with special interests in canine reproduction and pediatrics. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 1981. She’s served as Revival’s Director of Veterinary Services since 2019.
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