Abstract:
Canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis is an important cause of severe, often fatal enteritis
in dogs. Survival rates can be as high as 90% when puppies receive intensive
treatment at tertiary veterinary facilities. No disease-specific therapies exist
and treatment consists of supportive therapies. These therapies include intensive
fluid therapy, antibiotic therapy, antiemetic therapy and analgesic therapy. Anthelminthic
therapy is added to eliminate possible concurrent verminosis. One
supportive measure which was found to be associated with more rapid clinical
improvement in canine parvovirus enteritis is the early implementation of enteral
nutrition. This article reviews the research findings in various aspects of early
enteral nutrition in both human and animal critical care. Different naso-enteric
feeding devices are compared and various feeding methods for the various clinical
scenarios encountered with canine parvovirus enteritis are briefly discussed. The
concept of gastric residual volume and its potential role in early enteral nutrition
is evaluated. The authors’ view on how these research findings can be practically
applied to treat puppies with canine parvovirus enteritis is presented. A detailed
description is given on the decision-making process in early enteral nutrition in a
tertiary facility treating puppies with canine parvovirus enteritis.
