Clinical Factors, Service Type, and Clinical Outcomes associated with Canine Parvovirus in Dogs presented at the KNUST Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana

Background Canine parvovirus (CPV) continues to be a predominant cause of morbidity and mortality among dogs, particularly affecting puppies and dogs with incomplete vaccination status or those that are unvaccinated. In Ghana, there is a paucity of evidence concerning the clinical predictors, service type, and clinical outcomes in dogs afflicted by CPV. This cross-sectional study was undertaken at the KNUST Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana, to assess the clinical factors associated with CPV diagnosis, types of service delivery and clinical outcomes in dogs presented to the facility. Diagnosis was based on compatible clinical signs and positive results from a Vcheck CPV antigen test kit (Bionote Inc., Korea) and V200 analyser (Bionote Inc., Korea). Demographics, clinical signs, service type (inpatient or outpatient) and outcome data were recorded via a standardised data collection form. Odds ratios were reported with 95% confidence intervals, and a significance threshold of p < 0.05 was applied for all regression and chi-square analyses. Results A total of 129 CPV-positive dogs were diagnosed, with an overall mortality rate of 26.4% (34/129). Haemorrhagic diarrhoea (OR = 2.60), vomiting (OR = 2.67), lower body weight (OR = 0.95 per kg), the presence of diarrhoea (OR = 2.26), and complete loss of appetite (OR = 2.51) were strong independent clinical predictors of positive canine parvovirus cases. CPV-positive dogs were significantly more likely to receive inpatient care than CPV-negative dogs (OR = 7.57, p < 0.001). Among CPV-positive dogs that received treatment, 32/123 (26.0%) CPV-positive dogs died, whereas 7/82 (8.5%) CPV-negative dogs died. Conclusions This study highlights the significant impact of CPV on dog morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Classic gastrointestinal signs remain reliable predictors of CPV in practice. The strong association between CPV positivity and the need for inpatient treatment underscores the severity of the infection. These results emphasise the need for improved vaccination strategies, prompt diagnosis, and clinical management practices to reduce CPV-related mortality in affected populations.