Answer

Lethargy, not eating, vomiting and/or diarrhea, or both. Often the diarrhea is bloody, and always it is foul smelling. This may all start in the matter of a day. There is often a fever also, but that isn't too diagnostic.

The virus will run it's course in several days, basically destroying the mucous lining and absorptive layer of the intestine. This allows all types of intestinal toxins and bacteria to be absorbed into the bloodstream. It is these that cause most of the deaths, not to mention the effect of the severe dehydration that is caused by the vomiting and diarrhea.

The goal of treatment is to avoid dehydration, protect the denuded intestines, counteract the toxins and bacteria entering the bloodstream, and provide some sort of nutrition for the 5 days, or less, it will take to get a pup back on his feet, depending on how severely he was affected.

When we are successful, the pup will, suddenly one day, want to drink and eat on his own, feeling 100% better. There may be some after effect months later, if this was a fairly young pup, but there is no way to tell until it happens.

I hope this answers your question.

Expert:	Peter Bennett, DVM
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Answered:	6/18/2007

Veterinarian

20 years experience as a Small Animal veterinarian