How to Get Rid of Parvo in Your Yard

Parvo is a dangerous viral infection that affects canines. The ailment features dominantly on younger pups and can often result in a painful death of young unvaccinated dogs. The ailment is often spread from one canine to another, considering that dogs are highly social and interactive animals; controlling a parvo outbreak can be difficult for most animal lovers.

You can spray your yard with a bleach solution (1 cup: 3 gallons of water). Accelerated hydrogen peroxide solution (1 cup: 2 gallons of water) or commercial disinfectant sprays like performacide as preventative measures to keep your pets safe from infection.

Parvovirus has no cure and can stay in your yard for up to 12 months. Rain or freezing temperatures/ice don’t get rid of the virus in your yard, you have to take preventive measures to protect your pets.

How to test your yard for parvo

There are several ways to test your yard for parvo. Some of the best techniques include conducting a soil analysis and taking samples of your dog’s fecal matter to the lab.

The virus often affects young canines, so if you occasionally let your dog out of the house, the chances are that you’ve had an experience dealing with parvo (or have vaccinated your pet from a parvo infection). Common symptoms associated with the disease include body weakness, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, etc.

A parvo infection can take up to one week to clear (but the virus may remain indoors/outdoors for much longer). However, if your pet survives the first three-four days, chances of making a full recovery are high. Given that the virus only affects your pet at most once in its life, it’s vital to take care of your pet during the delicate period or book them at a reputable animal hospital.

The parvo-virus is highly adaptable and can tolerate periods of extreme heat/cold. You can find parvo in grass, bushes, and other outdoor sections of your house regularly frequented by animals.

In any case, it’s always better to prevent the ailment than treat it. (The average treatment costs range from $500-$2000).

How to Get Rid of Parvo in the Yard

Eliminating parvo from your yard can be a challenging process. The virus can stay hidden within the grass (and other plants) for a prolonged duration. Parvo can stick to your shoes, animal paws, concrete walkways and (without your knowledge) gain access to your living space, making your pet vulnerable to catching an infection.

Many experts recommend that you vaccinate your pet against the virus, even if you rarely take them outdoors.  The best time to vaccinate your animal is as puppies or young adolescents, where they are most susceptible to the disease.

You can opt for several techniques to eradicate parvo from your yard. Some of these methods include:

Use a bleach solution

Bleach is one of the most effective solutions when dealing with parvo. The product readily kills the virus and helps keep your home, lawn, and walkways free from pathogens.

A substantial downside to using bleach is that your grass, shrubs, bushes, and so on might dry out after continuous use. The product raises the soil’s PH to a level where the ground cannot support future plant growth.

Here’s how to properly use bleach to eradicate parvo

1. Pour Undiluted bleach into a spray pump

Pour a solution of 10% to 20% undiluted bleach into your spray pump. Remember to wear protective clothing such as gloves, nose masks, and goggles to keep your sensitive areas protected from contact with the chemical agent.

Bleach contains dangerous fumes that can irritate your eyes, nose, and skin upon contact.

2. Dilute the bleach using water

Add copious amounts of clean water to the bleach concoction. The ideal ratio should be 1: 30 (where one cup of bleach should mix with three gallons of water).

Gently stir the mixture using a stirring rod (and adjust the ratio for smaller/larger garden sprays).

3. Mix the solution and spray over the affected surfaces

When you are confident that your solution has the perfect blend, it is time to start the spraying process. It is easy to miss small spots within an unmarked space. Makes sure to adopt a workable approach that can help you spread the bleach evenly (and cover all the necessary surfaces).

You can consider strategies such as managing your walk speed, using a sprayer with adjustable spray rates, compensating for large droplets, etc.

Once you finish spraying, leave the surface untouched for 10-15 minutes. It’s best to monitor the condition of your lawn for about a week (and take samples to the lab for testing).

Spay accelerated hydrogen peroxide solution

Accelerated hydrogen peroxide is a reliable option for parvovirus eradication. The product provides a safe and cost-effective means for disinfecting surfaces within and outside your home.

Accelerated hydrogen peroxide contains about 3% concentrate (which is 1% higher than ordinary hydrogen peroxide types). The solution provides a potent mix capable of dealing with many viruses.

Using an accelerated hydrogen peroxide solution on a grass lawn can be challenging. You first need to ensure that you remove all the organic/fecal matter lying around the premises. You can then consider disinfecting the surrounding area with the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Paved walkways are much easier to clean. You can spray your solution on the cement, give it about 10-15 minutes before allowing your puppy/dog out of the house.

Suppose you opt to clean your dog kernel using an accelerated hydrogen peroxide solution. It’s best to mix the chemical with water in a ratio of 1:32 (about four ounces in every gallon) and leave the room uninterrupted for about 10 minutes.

Accelerated hydrogen peroxide is much safer than bleach (and does not damage the grass or other plants growing within your lawn).

Make sure to use quality products that are within their shelf life.  Look out for fizzing, which is a characteristic indication of a functioning product.

Parvo Disinfectant Sprays or Tabs

You can find different commercial products available online and in local stores. Some of the more popular products include brands such as rescue, performacide, etc.

The chemical products are ideal for disinfecting surfaces from parvo-viruses, ringworms, and other pathogens. Most have a straightforward application procedure and rarely require additional labor costs by specialists.

You can use a disinfecting fogger to spread the disinfectant over a large area, making it easier to clean out large open spaces such as front and back yards. It’s also a good idea to read the manufacturer’s guidelines on correct application procedures before settling on a choice.

Parvo disinfectant sprays provide a reliable, tested, and proven means of dealing with parvo-virus incidences within your space.

Can rain wash away parvo?

Some “experts” often imply that rainwater can wash away the virus you’re your soil. Contrary to popular opinion, rain does not wash away the parvovirus. The pathogen remains active in the ground even after the fecal matter disseminates.

There is evidence to suggest that periods of extensive rain can help dilute the concentration of the virus within an outdoor environment.

However, it does not infer that the virus has completely disappeared from the soil. It’s safer to take preventive measures and consider affected surfaces contaminated even after periods of heavy rain.

Parvo viruses do well in moist, shaded conditions but may survive in sunny well-lit soils for an extensive duration. Freezing temperatures also help bury and protect the virus under the blanket of ice (which makes disinfecting much more challenging).

For dogs at risk for a parvo outbreak, it’s crucial to ensure that you limit your pet’s movement outdoors and ensure that they receive the necessary vaccination. Furthermore, you need to occasionally check your property for feces, including controlling how your pet moves in public places like parks, sidewalks, etc.  

How long can the parvovirus live in a yard?

Parvo can live in a yard for anywhere from six to twelve months, but it depends on pre-existing environmental conditions.

Parvo prefers humid, shady conditions – under trees, bushes, shrubs, etc. The virus features predominantly in soil, water, and physical contact from infected animals.

There are different variants of the virus (including the CPV-2a, CPV-2b, CPV-2c), of which each has unique distribution across the world. It’s crucial to deal with dog vomit, fecal matter, saliva, and other organic materials that could contribute to the spread of parvo within your yard.

Conducting a regular disinfection routine can help prevent the spread of parvo within your home. However, the most efficient technique is early vaccination for young puppies.

Pet owners should also be wary of allowing other dogs access to their yards, especially if their pets are not vaccinated.