Author TB Thompson DVM has been a licensed, practicing veterinarian since 2000.

If you are a new puppy parent, you probably know about the common puppy illness we call parvo. If not, you can read more about it in my other article All About Parvo.

But what should you expect once your dog has been infected and recovers from the disease? 

I’m going to answer the questions my clients have asked about parvo recovery and whether a dog can get parvo twice. Hopefully, you’ll come away feeling more confident about your pup’s future.

Can dogs get parvo twice?

It’s very rare. The parvo virus, whether from natural infection or vaccination, stimulates a strong immune response in 99.999% of dogs. Most dogs who recover from parvo gain immunity for life.

Rottweiler dog
The Rottweiler breed is more susceptible to getting parvo.

If my dog has had parvo before, are they completely immune now?

A dog who has recovered from a parvo infection likely has strong immunity. Canine parvovirus evokes a strong, long-lasting immune response that will protect the dog in the event of future exposure.

Is there a chance my dog could get a different strain of parvo?

It’s very unlikely a recovered dog would get sick from a different strain of the virus. Studies show that infection/vaccination with one strain provides good immunity to all parvo strains. So most dogs that recover from parvo are immune to all strains.

How long does the immunity from parvo last?

Immunity can last for many years, often for the dog’s lifetime. A 2006 study looked at dogs who had been vaccinated 9 years previously. They found these dogs still had adequate protective antibodies against parvo. The same immunity is expected in a dog who recovered from a natural parvo infection.

Should I still vaccinate my dog if they’ve had parvo before?

It may not be necessary, but many vets use combination vaccines that include parvo. If you want to avoid the parvo vaccine, you can opt for blood testing parvo antibody titers to make sure your dog is still protected.

Are some dogs more at risk of getting parvo again than others?

Only about 0.001% of all dogs are unable to develop immunity and could get parvo again.

However, it’s not likely these non-responders would survive parvo illness the first time. The sad truth is that if a dog is no longer alive, they can’t become infected a second time.

What can I do to prevent my dog from getting parvo again?

The best way to keep any dog from getting parvo is to vaccinate them according to industry guidelines. If you’re unsure whether your dog really had parvo or are worried they could become reinfected, keep them up to date on vaccination.

brown and white puppy lying covered with a sheet
Parvo is bad enough the first time!

Does the severity of the first infection affect the chances of getting parvo again?

No, severity doesn’t impact immunity. Most dogs are immune after recovering.

Can older dogs who had parvo as puppies get it again?

It’s very unlikely and probably impossible that an adult dog would get parvo after having it as a puppy. Most dogs retain their immunity well into adulthood.

What are the signs that parvo might be recurring?

Symptoms of parvo include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy, but recurrence is extremely rare. If your dog has recovered from parvo and starts showing these symptoms, they may have another problem.

See your veterinarian for help pinpointing the cause of symptoms.

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Related Posts:

  1. Day, M. J., BSc, BVMS(Hons), PhD, DSc, DECVP, FASM, FRCPath, FRCVS. (2013). How I Treat: Serology for Decision-Making in Core Vaccination. In World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress Proceedings. University of Bristol, UK: School of Veterinary Sciences. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  2. Greene CE, Decaro N: Canine Viral Enteritides. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 4th ed. Elsevier 2012 pp. 67-75.
  3. Henry, C. J., McCaw, D. L., Brock, K. V., Stoker, A. M., Tyler, J. W., Tate, D. J., & Higginbotham, M. L. (2001). Association between cancer chemotherapy and canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, and rabies virus antibody titers in tumor-bearing dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219(9), 1238-1241.
  4. Mochizuki, M., Horiuchi, M., Hiragi, H., San Gabriel, M. C., Yasuda, N., & Uno, T. (1996). Isolation of canine parvovirus from a cat manifesting clinical signs of feline panleukopenia. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 34(9), 2101-2105.
  5. Schultz, R. D., Thiel, B., Mukhtar, E., Sharp, P., & Larson, L. J. (2010). Age and long-term protective immunity in dogs and cats. Journal of comparative pathology , 142, S102-S108.
  6. Schultz, R. D. (2006). Duration of immunity for canine and feline vaccines: a review. Veterinary microbiology, 117(1), 75-79.