Early oral voluntary nutrition in anorexic critical ill dogs with severe parvoviral infection: a retrospective study in 49 dogs (2012-2014)

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the effect of early oral voluntary nutrition on mortality and length of hospitalization (LH) in dogs with severe CPV infection, and anorexia. Forty-nine dogs were included, 21male, 28 female, with the median age of 3 months and the median body weight of 3 kg. Four dogs (8%) were mildly anorexic, 9 (18 %) moderately anorexic and 36 (74%) severely anorexic at time to presentation. Eight dogs (16%) started eating voluntarily within 72 h from admission, 12 dogs (24 %) after 72 h from admission, and 29 dogs (60 %) never ate food voluntarily. All dogs that never ate food voluntarily died, of them 24 dogs had severe anorexia, and 5 moderate anorexia at presentation. Strong correlation was evident between LH, and the time of start eating (r = 0.82; p=0.001). Statistically significant difference was observed in LH between dogs that gained voluntary eating within 72 h (median 2 days) and after 72 h (median 4.5 days) from admission (p=0.002). In conclusion, early oral voluntary nutrition in dogs with severe CPV infection, and anorexia is associated with a lower mortality rate and shorter length of hospitalization.