Associations between early life exposure to parvovirus and antibiotic treatment and the occurrence and severity of later chronic enteropathy in dogs

Background: Canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is reportedly associated with chronic enteropathy (CE), but infected puppies are often treated with antibiotics, which may also promote CE. This study aims to compare the presence and severity of CE among dogs that were CPV-infected, treated with antibiotics or healthy during puppyhood. Methods: A questionnaire based on the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) was answered by owners of dogs that were either presented with CPV infection, treated with antibiotics for a non-gastrointestinal disease or were healthy during puppyhood. The questionnaires were completed more than one year after initial presentation. Results: Owners of 60/199 (30%) CPV-infected dogs, 59/199 (30%) antibiotic-treated dogs, and 80/199 (40%) control dogs participated. There was no (p = 0.24) difference in CE occurrence between groups. There were no differences (p = 0.18) in the CIBDAI score between CPV (median = 1, range: 0–6), antibiotic (median = 1, range: 0–4), and control dog (median = 1, range: 0–5) groups. CPV-infected dogs had an increased risk of higher CIBDAI score compared to control dogs (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–3.9, p = 0.024). A lower CIBDAI score was associated with older age (Rho = −0.23; p = 0.001). Limitations: The CIBDAI is partially subjective. Conclusion: CPV infection was associated with a risk for a higher CIBDAI score; however, neither CPV infection nor early exposure to oral antibiotics was associated with a clinically moderate or severe later CE.