Supportive care is very important in the treatment of parvoviral infections. Sick animals need to be given fluids if they are dehydrated. Secondary bacterial infections may also be a problem. If an infection develops, antibiotics need to be administered to fight it. Treatment may take a couple of days up to several weeks, depending on the dog, its age, and the severity of the infection.
Parvovirus can persist in the environment for long periods.
It is important to clean up after an infection. The bowls should be thrown away and the bedding either bleached or thrown away to prevent further spread of the infection. Discard all feces from the infected dog. Humans can also spread the disease on their hands if they touch feces from an infected dog and then touch a puppy without washing properly. Very small amounts of fecal material on the dog's coat can contain large numbers of viral organisms and can easily be transmitted to a susceptible dog.