Vetdle Archive
Archive Case #1: Canine Parvoviral Enteritis
Dog veterinary case - Easy - March 4, 2026
Clinical Clues
- A 4-month-old unvaccinated puppy is presented for acute vomiting and diarrhoea.
- The owner reports the puppy became quiet and stopped eating the day before, then developed profuse gastrointestinal signs overnight.
- Several episodes of diarrhoea have become increasingly bloody, and the puppy is now markedly lethargic.
- On examination, the puppy is depressed, dehydrated, and has a painful abdomen.
- A CBC shows marked leukopenia.
- A faecal antigen test is positive for canine parvovirus.
Diagnosis
Canine Parvoviral Enteritis
Canine parvoviral enteritis is a common and often severe viral disease of young unvaccinated dogs, characterised by acute vomiting, haemorrhagic diarrhoea, dehydration, and leukopenia.
Learning review
Review the case evidence
Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this dog case supports the provided diagnosis, Canine Parvoviral Enteritis, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.
Evidence checkpoints
Clues 1-2
- Clue 1: A 4-month-old unvaccinated puppy is presented for acute vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Clue 2: The owner reports the puppy became quiet and stopped eating the day before, then developed profuse gastrointestinal signs overnight.
Clues 3-4
- Clue 3: Several episodes of diarrhoea have become increasingly bloody, and the puppy is now markedly lethargic.
- Clue 4: On examination, the puppy is depressed, dehydrated, and has a painful abdomen.
Clues 5-6
- Clue 5: A CBC shows marked leukopenia.
- Clue 6: A faecal antigen test is positive for canine parvovirus.
Self-review prompts
- After clues 1-2, what evidence from this dog case shaped your initial interpretation?
- When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Canine Parvoviral Enteritis?
- How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Canine Parvoviral Enteritis?
Educational Use
Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.