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My puppy has parvo. How long for recovery and what are survival odds?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 8 lbs

My 16wk puppy got parvo three days after his 3rd vaccine. He's currently on day four of inpatient at the animal hospital. He is still very lethargic and having diarrhea. So far not getting worse or better. Should he be improving by now? How long does the average puppy take to get better? What are odds of a puppy this young surviving? I was so careful with him I can't believe he caught the virus.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 16th, 2019

It can take 1-2 weeks to recover from parvo, and it is probably encouraging that Frank is not worse at this point. Even when you are careful about potential exposure and when you follow the recommended vaccine protocol sometimes puppies will still become infected with the virus. While I can’t say the exact odds without knowing more details about his lab values and physical exam, some studies have shown a 90% success rate with inpatient treatment in a hospital and the longer he goes without developing life threatening complications the better his prognosis is.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on October 21st, 2018

    Poor Smokey! I'm sorry to hear that he has parvo. Some puppies with this disease recover with treatment, while others unfortunately may pass away in spite of veterinary care. In pups who do recover, this can take anywhere from a 2-3 days to more than a week depending on how things go.

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