I know what your thinking, Parvo on my carpet…really? No way, this is an outside canine disease, or is it? Well, settle down and lend an ear, we have information for you! As a professional residential and commercial carpet cleaning company, we deal with this type of canine frustration from time to time. Yep, we get calls from clients with flea infestations, bed bugs, dust mites, dander and allergen issues! If the bug bites, we get the call. Although, parvo not being quite the same thing (a virus) as fleas, the canine form of parvo can be quite serious for your pet’s health. Oh, and did I mention, it can be spread from pet to pet! Yes, the virus is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact or contact of another dog’s poop! It’s like the flu virus (from a contact perspective – but with another dog). The virus can also contaminate your dog’s food, water bowl, crate, leashes, collars and (your hands) that come in contact with an infected dog. So, the answer you’ve been waiting for! Can canine parvo be spread to carpet? The answer is YES! If the virus can contaminate your hands and clothing, carpet is not much different, especially if your dog poops on the carpet from the intestinal infection from parvo! It seems the longevity of the parvo virus outside the body is mixed, but consensus is 1-7 months. Is this the same for carpet?

As discussed above, you have a general idea on what the parvo virus is and how long it can survive outside the body. Having said that, how long parvo can last on your carpet is questionable! The reason, there are many variables that determine the longevity of the virus in your home. Such as, is your dog still in the incubation period? How fast did you recognize symptoms and seek treatment? Did your dog come in contact with other dogs in the same home…you get the point! Well, this is important, as it determines the cycle (longevity) from conception to eradication! We believe from a carpet perspective that your dog’s bowl movements are one of the most important aspects to consider. Obviously, this is HUGE from a sanitary perspective and can determine how fast the virus is spread. In a moment, we’ll discuss how to remove parvo from your carpet. Until then, let’s dig a little deeper!

 

From the information gathered above, look at this from a real perspective. The good news is, parvo is not known to infect humans. But, there are cases of similar types of viruses that do. Such as the most recent H1N1 virus, also commonly known as the swine flu, which was spread by the porcine species to humans. So, your good to go, but your dog is not feeling to good! It’s SUPER IMPORTANT to seek veterinary attention immediately as dehydration will set in quickly! More than likely your dog will NOT want to drink water, so an IV will be needed. To clarify, obviously, we are not veterinarian’s, but we do work closely with several in the Dallas, Ft. Worth Metroplex. Our SPECIALTY is Pet Urine & Odor Remediation, so we do see this from time to time! Having dealt with this before, we feel that Hot Water Extraction form of carpet cleaning is best to remedy for parvo in carpet. There several reasons behind, listed below.

 

  1. Hot Water Extraction has the ability to (MIX anti-bacterial properties & whatever desired) to treat a specific problem. In other words, you can tailor your products and dilutions to achieve different results.
  2. Hot Water Extraction also rinses the carpet fiber removing any feces from the infected dog (basically washes the carpet) for the ultimate clean.
  3. MEGA HEAT is what matters when trying to sanitize or remove any type of bacteria. Same as in the olden days (water was boiled before drinking to sanitize) same thing! Most consumers do not realize the many chemicals are simply not needed when cleaning carpet at super-heated temperatures. Using 250 degrees plus is possible with the right equipment and accessories (hoses & wands) to support that kind of heat. Here at Aqualux we are also an “Original Equipment Manufacturer” so we have the ability to manufacture equipment the will produce this type of cleaning.
  4. Next, is discharge of waste water! Most veterinarians will tell you to use bleach water to wipe down floors, kennels and to wash leashes and collars. Since you CANNOT clean carpet with a bleach solution, we do sanitize our waste water systems with Chlorine Bleach to sanitize and remove any harmful contaminants before disposal such as parvo!!!!

In summation, we believe that our carpet cleaning process here at Aqualux Carpet Cleaning (using the method above) can safely clean your carpet, with no chemical residue to assist in removing parvo from your carpet. So, there ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE to you, but please consult with your veterinarian to seek professional advice and options prior.