puppy recovering from parvo

Question
Hi I have a 9 week old French Mastiff pup who is on day 8 of being diagnosed with parvo. He is drinking but I am having trouble getting him to eat. All he wants to eat is his dry puppy food and only 2-3 pieces at a time (every 3-4hrs) I have tried putting canned puppy food with and without warm water on the dry food and he won't touch it. I have also tried the A/D food from the vet with no luck (this is what he is being force fed and he runs from me) He walks around crying when me or my children are eating like he is starving and wants whatever we are eating. I did give him half of my chicken breast and he devoured it (it was baked).  My vet checked him and said to continue force feeding, but with the way he ate the chicken tonight I think if I could find something he likes he would eat enough on his own. He has had a firm stool for 2 days. So my question is what would be good to feed him.

Answer
Mindy -

I assume that your dog is not vomiting or does not have diarrhea, which are the classic symptoms of parvovirus.  

I usually do not recommend feeding pets that are being treated for parvo. I think it gives the intestines a time to rest, since they have been invaded with the parvo virus and are working overtime to replenish intestinal cells that have been damaged.  Pets that are being treated for parvo are usually given IV fluids while they recuperate.

I do not think that force feeding is a good idea; talk with your veterinarian concerning a bland diet that your pup may eat.  A bland diet is good for your pup; Hill's has an intestinal diet that I would recommend. It is called I/D.  Your vet should be able to get that diet for you.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM