I did a search and didn't come up with anything, I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience using Tamiflu to treat Parvo, or knows someone with experience, and opinions.

Here are some links....

Tamiflu

Article 1

Article 2

Testimonial 1

Testimonial 2

It sounds promising. I'm going to pass this along to my vet.

I have had contact with Dr. Broadhurst (via phone and e-mail) and have followed several litters affected with parvo where the breeders have used various protocols including Tamiflu.

I can provide as much info as you are interested in hearing, but the most important things to realize are:

1) Tamiflu MUST be given very early after exposure to parvo for it to provide the most benefit.
2) Tamiflu does NOT stop parvo virus replication. It works against the GI bacteria, not the virus. Bacteria are believed to cause much of the severe symptoms associated with parvo and it's believed that by inhibiting the bacteria many of the life threatening GI-related symptoms can be avoided or minimized. Since Tamiflu does not stop viral replication, it's important to understand that Tamiflu has NO EFFECT on parvo damage to the heart. In other words, even if GI symptoms are alleviated or absent, a puppy may eventually succumb to deadly parvo-related heart problems.
3) Pups treated with Tamiflu are still able to actively shed virus, even if asymptomatic.

I have dosing info, how/where to purchase, success/failure examples, etc. I can share with anyone interested. It takes me some time to respond, but eventually I do respond to everyone.

Regards,
Diane Seaman
PhD Molecular Microbiology/Immunology

Diane
What are the dosage rates?
Has Tamiflu been used in conjunction with Parvaid?
What is the youngest age puppies has it been used on successfully?
Where can it be purchased?

 Quote: DianeSeaman

2) Tamiflu does NOT stop parvo virus replication. It works against the GI bacteria, not the virus.

This is extremely interesting, and I would like as many links as you can provide..... and THANK YOU!

I do have a question about the above. My understanding is that Tamiflu is a virucide. Is it also an antibiotic, and if it isn't, what it the anti-GI-bacteria mechanism?

This is pulled from this website

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_oseltamivir.html

"Oseltamivir specifically targets the influenza virus. This virus bears a special attachment enzyme on its surface called “Neuraminidase.” This enzyme allows the flu virus to bud from the host cell in which it was created and then happily pass through the mucus of the respiratory tract to any cell in the tract it wishes to infect. Inhibiting neuraminidase effectively locks the new viral organisms within their host cell, imprisoning them so that they cannot infect new cells. The immune system will recognize the infected cell and kill it along with its infective contents. Oseltamivir is felt to cut a couple of days out of one’s sickness period when it comes to the flu. "

It doesnt work in the same way on Parvo?

Im defanately interested in all the info you have.

Another Tamiflu link:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/oseltamivir_phosphatePIS.htm

Deb,
Dr. Jack Broadhurst Article

1. Dr. Broadhurst gives dosing info on his site. (Note: I don't recall if he mentions it on his site, but certain breeds are more susceptible to parvo (according to Dr. Broadhurst) and he recommends increasing the initial and subsequent dose for those breeds.
2. I know of breeders that have used both with difficult to interpret results. I don't know of any formal reliable studies where both were used.
3. I can't answer that since not all cases where Tamiflu has been used are well-documented. Most puppies have ample protection from parvo via colostrum to ward off the disease until 5-6 weeks of age, so it's likely Tamiflu is most often used on pups 5-6 weeks of age or older. I am not aware of its use on pups younger than 5 weeks, but perhaps Dr. Broadhurst could give some examples.
4. Tamiflu is not approved for use in dogs so obtaining it for veterinary use can be difficult. It is also in great demand for human use (demand exceeds supply much of the time) so this makes it even more difficult to get. Vets have been able to prescribe it for "off-label" use at human pharmacies and it's a good idea to search for both a vet who will prescribe it and a pharmacy that will fill the prescription before it's needed. Once parvo strikes, 24-48 hours spent searching for a source of Tamiflu can be too long and it may be too late to be of help.
It has a very short shelf-life (7-10 days) in reconstituted form so having it on hand longer than that requires getting it in non-liquid form and being able to reconstitute it yourself when needed.

 Quote: andy deitz

This is pulled from this website

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_oseltamivir.html

"Oseltamivir specifically targets the influenza virus. This virus bears a special attachment enzyme on its surface called “Neuraminidase.” This enzyme allows the flu virus to bud from the host cell in which it was created and then happily pass through the mucus of the respiratory tract to any cell in the tract it wishes to infect. Inhibiting neuraminidase effectively locks the new viral organisms within their host cell, imprisoning them so that they cannot infect new cells. The immune system will recognize the infected cell and kill it along with its infective contents. Oseltamivir is felt to cut a couple of days out of one’s sickness period when it comes to the flu. "

It doesnt work in the same way on Parvo?

Im defanately interested in all the info you have.

Your info agrees with I am finding in the PDR and elsewhere..... nothing about bacteria.

I'm sure ther's tons of info I just can't find, but I sure am interested in the G.I. bacteria part.

In fact, the whole subject is extremely interesting. If anyone comes up with any connection between G.I. bacteria and virucides, I'd really like the links or titles.

Connie,

As posted by Andy, Oseltamivir/Tamiflu is a neuraminidase inhibitor. Without getting too technical here, inhibition of neuraminidase activity effectively reduces virulence of the influenza virus, but this is not true for ALL viruses. Some bacteria can also be effectively rendered less virulent in the presence of a neuraminidase inhibitor. Although research is limited, Dr. Broadhurst believes it is the inhibition of BACTERIAL neuraminidase activity rather than any effect on the parvo virus itself that makes Tamiflu useful in canine parvo infection.

If you read Dr. Broadhurst's article posted above, he explains his views on this quite well.

Tamiflu has anti-bacterial activity if the targeted bacteria are affected by inhibition of neuramindase, so in this respect it is an "antibiotic". The same is true for viruses. It has anti-viral activity against viruses that rely on neuraminidase, but would have little direct effect against those that do not.