parvo Archives - Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA https://animalemergencycare.net/aecprevents/tag/parvo/ Animal Emergency Care Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:18:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://animalemergencycare.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AEClogo_WebTransparent_ColorImage-150x150.png parvo Archives - Animal Emergency Care (AEC) Bellingham, WA https://animalemergencycare.net/aecprevents/tag/parvo/ 32 32 What is a SNAP® test? https://animalemergencycare.net/aecprevents/what-is-a-snap-test/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 22:27:06 +0000 https://animalemergencycare.net/?p=2344 Our pets talk to us in their own ways, but unfortunately, we cannot rely on them to explain if they feel unwell. Veterinary personnel use multiple diagnostic methods to get the important health information a pet cannot say in words. What is a SNAP test? Rapid screenings like SNAP tests can be done in the […]

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Our pets talk to us in their own ways, but unfortunately, we cannot rely on them to explain if they feel unwell. Veterinary personnel use multiple diagnostic methods to get the important health information a pet cannot say in words. What is a SNAP test? Rapid screenings like SNAP tests can be done in the hospital during your visit, so conversations about your pet’s health can be had immediately. The Animal Emergency Care team wants to help you understand the benefits and limitations of SNAP tests as a veterinary tool.

What is a SNAP® test?

A SNAP test is a combination of technology and process that yields results quickly and at relatively low expense. While SNAP seems like an acronym, IDEXX actually named it for the sound the cartridge makes as it “snaps” into the device. This device is a complex digital tool called the analyzer.

There are varieties of SNAP tests that yield simultaneous results for multiple diseases using a single sample. SNAP tests allow convenient rapid screening for several infectious diseases, including but not limited to:

    • Ehrlichiosis

    • Giardia

    • Heartworm

These are potentially fatal diseases, some of which can be cured and some of which can only be managed. Your pet (and pets they come in contact with) are safer the earlier they are diagnosed.

At the time of this article’s publication, Animal Emergency Care offers the following SNAP tests: SNAP Parvo, SNAP Lepto, SNAP Giardia, SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo, SNAP Feline proBNP (a cardiac screening for cats), and SNAP 4DX Plus (a screen for multiple vector-borne illnesses, including heartworm disease, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis). 

How does the SNAP test rapid screening work?

First, the veterinary team will take a small blood or stool sample from your pet. The sample required depends on the type of test.

After adding a patient’s blood or fecal sample and a reagent to the test strip, the technician “snaps” the cartridge into the analyzer. The analyzer looks similar to a debit card reader at the grocery store. Instead of a card, it accepts a larger cartridge that houses a diagnostic test strip.

It typically takes only 8-10 minutes for results. This quick turnaround means you and you pet’s care team can discuss health issues during your visit, instead of waiting for results from an off-site lab.

When your pet has an infection, the bacteria, virus, or parasite will begin to shed proteins that betray its presence. These proteins are called antigens. Your pet’s immune system will react to the infection by creating another type of protein called antibodies. The analyzer identifies the infection by releasing chemicals which will react to specific antigens or antibodies if they are present in your pet’s blood or stool sample.

Limitations regarding SNAP test results

SNAP test results are highly accurate, but they require nuance and knowledge to interpret.

For instance, a SNAP test that is performed too soon after exposure may yield a false negative. False negatives most often occur when the foreign agent has not yet had enough time to generate target proteins at a high enough concentration for detection. In such cases, a pet may need to be retested after more time passes. Similarly, positive SNAP results for tickborne illness don’t necessarily indicate an active sickness. It only means the pet has been exposed. Your veterinarian will ask you for context that helps determine next steps. This could include monitoring your pet, additional tests, or beginning treatment.

At emergency veterinary hospitals like Animal Emergency Care, we almost exclusively see pets who are not only symptomatic, but whose symptoms require urgent care. Diagnostics like SNAP tests help a veterinarian determine likely causes for a patient’s symptoms and put together a plan to pursue appropriate treatment.

Outside of the emergency hospital, rapid screening tests like these are routinely used in preventative medicine, often as part of your pet’s yearly checkup with their family veterinarian. 

SNAP tests for yearly screening

One of the strongest advantages to SNAP tests is the prospect of catching hidden illness before complications are severe.

Tick-borne diseases can cause clinical symptoms such as fever, joint pain, or lethargy—but patients sometimes fail to present signs at all. To avoid false negatives for tick-borne illness, consider scheduling a yearly test with your regular vet in late autumn or winter.

A dog with a heartworm infection might cough, have breathing problems, or lose weight, but your pet could suffer extensive damage from these parasites before they show any noticeable indication of infection. While some regions have higher rates of heartworm infection, dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm in every U.S. state.

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are among the most common infections among cats. These pets can live longer, healthier lives if their infections are properly managed.

Paying for diagnostic tests

While a single SNAP test is not necessarily considered an expensive procedure, they are often just one small piece of a diagnostic and treatment plan for a pet who needs emergency medical care. To help alleviate the worry about paying for care so you can focus on your pet, Animal Emergency Care accepts pet insurance and offers our clients a number of financing options and payment plans. Never hesitate to reach out to our team to explore ways to get your animal the care they need. We’re here to help!

If your cat or dog is injured or experiencing an urgent health concern on a night, weekend, or holiday when your regular veterinarian is unavailable, contact Animal Emergency Care and bring your pet in for treatment. #AECprevents

Sources

https://www.idexx.co.uk/files/snap-ecosystem-brochure-2024-en-gb.pdf

https://kintekdetection.com/faqs/what-are-snap-tests-and-what-do-they-screen-for

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&Id=9494666

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/circulatory-system/heartworm-disease/heartworm-disease-in-dogs-cats-and-ferrets

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-leukemia-virus

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]]> Canine Parvovirus: A Deadly Threat https://animalemergencycare.net/aecprevents/canine-parvovirus-a-deadly-threat/ Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:45:47 +0000 https://animalemergencycare.net/?p=304 Canine parvovirus instills fear in every puppy owner, as it should. This deadly disease is responsible for a serious illness and sometimes death in the most vulnerable pets—puppies who have not yet developed strong immunity. Although dogs of any age can contract the virus, puppies are at highest risk. Learn more about this devastating disease, how to recognize the signs, and how to protect your dog. 

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]]> Canine parvovirus instills fear in every puppy owner, as it should. This deadly disease is responsible for a serious illness and sometimes death in the most vulnerable pets—puppies who have not yet developed strong immunity. Although dogs of any age can contract the virus, puppies are at highest risk. Learn more about this devastating disease, how to recognize the signs, and how to protect your dog. 

What is canine parvovirus?

Canine parvovirus causes a highly infectious viral disease typically referred to as parvo. Infected dogs shed the parvovirus in their feces, and the virus remains in the environment for months or even years since it is highly resistant to disinfectants and temperature changes. Dogs typically become infected when they ingest the virus, such as by eating grass or licking their feet after being outside. The virus can also contaminate inanimate objects such as food bowls, shoes, and clothing which infects other dogs. Puppies are highly susceptible to infection and suffer the most severe signs since their immunity has not yet fully developed. 

Canine parvovirus attacks a dog’s intestinal lining which sloughs and sheds in the feces. Intestinal bacteria and toxins then enter exposed blood vessels and cause septicemia, a body-wide blood infection. Severe septicemia and dehydration cause serious illness and can be deadly, despite treatment. 

In rare cases, canine parvovirus can attack the heart muscle of young puppies (i.e., younger than 8 weeks) causing heart failure and sudden death. 

What are canine parvovirus signs?

Parvo signs develop secondary to severe intestinal damage and may include:

  • Lethargy 
  • Decreased appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Severe, hemorrhagic diarrhea
  • Severe dehydration

Many illnesses and infections, including intestinal parasites and gastritis, can cause vomiting and diarrhea in puppies which can quickly lead to life-threatening dehydration. Any puppy with these signs should be evaluated immediately by a veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

How is canine parvovirus treated?

Canine parvovirus infections typically require hospitalization and intensive treatment. This may include:

  • Intravenous fluids to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances
  • Injectable medications to control nausea and vomiting
  • Antibiotics to treat or prevent septicemia
  • Invasive nutritional support
  • Plasma transfusions

Infected dogs are treated in an isolation ward since parvo is highly contagious. Contamination is contained and they cannot pass the infection to other hospital patients. They are cared for by hospital team members wearing disposable gowns, gloves, and shoe coverings to prevent spread. 

Affected dogs typically are hospitalized for several days to a week. With aggressive treatment, 70% to 90% of dogs with parvo will survive, but survival rates are significantly lower without treatment. 

How can I plan ahead for an unexpected veterinary emergency?

No pet owner wants to be caught unprepared for a veterinary emergency and be forced to make life-or-death decisions based on finances. Long-term hospitalization and intensive treatment, whether for an infectious disease, a traumatic injury, or a sudden illness, can quickly become costly, so plan ahead for a potential emergency. Pet health insurance, purchased through trusted companies such as Trupanion, allows you to focus on your pet’s care and recovery instead of scraping together funds to cover treatment—or worse, not being able to proceed with treatment due to finances. 

Alternative methods that can help pay for your pet’s treatment include:

  • CareCredit — A credit card solely for medical expenses, Care Credit allows facilities to delay interest. Most veterinary hospitals will delay interest payments for six months on expenses more than $200.
  • Scratch Pay — Scratch Pay offers a line of credit that is limited to one facility only, although you can apply for credit at multiple facilities. You can choose the repayment term, and interest rates vary according to the timeline and your credit history. 
  • Bank loans — Although private bank loans typically have higher interest rates, they may be your only choice in an emergency situation.

These options can help cover your pet’s medical costs in a pinch, but you will have less stress if you plan ahead and purchase pet medical insurance when you first adopt your pet because you will know they are covered.

How can I prevent canine parvovirus in my dog? 

Fortunately, canine parvovirus is preventable with routine vaccination. Puppies should receive their first parvovirus vaccination at 6 to 8 weeks of age, as well as boosters every three to four weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. Every puppy must receive the full vaccination series as partial vaccination may not produce adequate virus immunity and leave your pup vulnerable to infection. Some dog breeds such as rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, American pit bull terriers, German shepherd dogs, and English springer spaniels have a higher incidence of parvo, and may require additional vaccines. Your puppy should not leave your yard until their vaccinations are complete as parvovirus is ubiquitous in the environment, and exposure is highly likely.  

Adult dogs should receive a vaccine booster at 1 year of age, and then once every three years.

Do not delay if your puppy develops vomiting and diarrhea. Contact your family veterinarian, or call us for help if needed. #AECprevents

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