The main symptoms are described in our Signs Of Parvo post.

You can take your dog to the vet’s to be tested, but please be aware that these tests are not 100% reliable- you can get both false positives (i.e. the test shows your dog has Parvo when he doesn’t) and false negatives (i.e. your dog does have Parvo even though the test says he doesn’t).

Also, there are other conditions that can mimic Parvo (e.g. Campylobacter), and which can even generate a positive Parvo test.

Our policy is that if it looks like Parvo, you’d better treat it as though it is, because by the time you realise it really is Parvo, you may have waited too long and lost your dog. This is one reason why we advise all dog owners to have a Home Parvo Treatment Kit on hand at all times, as you never known when Parvo will strike.