Once the dog encounters the virus orally or through the nose, the virus replicates quickly in intestinal cells and in the bone marrow, and thusly, causes severe damage to these areas.
Dogs usually are quite depressed and quickly become dehydrated.
Diagnosis is based on history including if and how the dog was vaccinated, clinical signs, blood counts and a special fecal parvo test. Rare cases of the illness can also lead to heart failure and sudden death in young pups. Certain breeds are also more susceptible to the virus including Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, the latter being most severely affected and hardest to treat. Read Willows Story here.