Vets see rise in dog parvo virus

Ally · 10-15-2007, 07:07 AM

OGDEN (AP) â€” Some veterinarians in northern Utah are seeing more cases of parvo, an illness that is spread by feces and can be fatal to dogs.

A veterinarian in Roy said he saw at least 30 cases last week, including two dead litters of puppies.

"It's the worst I've seen in many years," David Pearson said. "Not only have we seen more cases than in the recent past, but it appears to be much more virulent. The mortality has been a lot higher this year."

Canine parvovirus causes bloody feces and severe vomiting when it attacks a dog's intestines, said Pearson of Animal Care Roy Veterinary Hospital.

Dogs can die of dehydration if not treated quickly.

"The disease is spread through infected feces," said Michael San Filippo, a spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association. "So, if a dog is out, it can step in it. Small amounts can get on the fur, and if the dog sniffs it, it can inhale the virus."

The increase isn't being reported everywhere in northern Utah.

"We're doing pretty good in that area," said Donna Bower, an office manager at the Layton Veterinary Hospital.

Dogs can be immunized against parvo.

"Somehow, this disease has reared its ugly head," Pearson said. "It's hard for us to watch dogs and pet owners go through this."

(Deseret Morning News)

RainKiss · 10-23-2007, 09:13 PM

feces? i never heard of them before... i'm from toronto, Ontario... none of my vets told me anything about this,,... i guess it isn't taht seirous in toronto then ? is there any shots that can be taken to prevent taht virus?

suzoo · 10-23-2007, 09:54 PM

feces = poop
Parvo virus is not that uncommon. It can be deadly if your pet isn;t vaccinated & comes in contact with it. You see it more commonly in shelters because of the high volume of animals that are not vaccinated on income. It is also the reason that boarding kennels won't accept unvaccinated animals.
The vaccine that is given to dogs typically include Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza & Parvovirus. Rabies, Bordatella & Leptosperosis is usually given separately.
Rainkiss.. You can check your Vet papers & it'll probably list Parvovirus in the booster.

suzoo · 10-23-2007, 09:56 PM

For some reason black & tan puppies are prone to catching parvo more so than others. Dobermans, rottweillers, shepherds..

RainKiss · 10-23-2007, 10:22 PM

oh damn, i should go get my german sheppard checked then>< i'm not sure if he is vaccinated... does he have to have all those vaccinations or just one of htem?

suzoo · 10-23-2007, 10:33 PM

The 1st four I mentioned are all included in one shot. By law, Rabies is mandatory for all dogs. Lepto is only needed if you are in a high risk area for that virus.. your Vet could tell you if you are. (not likely if you live right in the City)
Bordatella is needed if you plan to use a boarding kennel... it prevents kennel cough which is highly contagious respiratory infection.

RainKiss · 10-23-2007, 11:47 PM

oh yea my dog got rabies shot, and he is vaccinated every year... so i think he should be safe if my vet didn't recommend me the lepto and the bordatella...

Ninja · 10-24-2007, 11:52 AM

You know... and I was at a trade show with my big rotti and while he has had his shots and is at a middle adult age, I was disappointed how many people take puppies into the show (not only because they want to sell them to people they don't even know... which GRRRR is a thing in itself,) but they would take them to a building with a lot of different dogs and risk their health!!!! I felt like asking them what they were thinking!

Ally · 10-24-2007, 12:04 PM

In the UK it is unheard of to have puppies of over 8 weeks old that haven't had their first vaccinations against everything. Whether you buy a pup from a breeder or adopt one from a shelter it has to have a written record of vaccinations...and adult dogs from shelters also have to have written proof too.

As someone who has been brought up with dogs and has had dogs of all ages, it is common sense to have every vaccination under the sun for an animal from puppy age...you can never guarantee the health of your pet, but you can certainly take as many steps as you can to prevent illnesses.

I have had the nasty experience of seeing what parvo does to a dog and it is not pretty. The dog suffers a great deal before it dies and that death can be agonising if not stopped quickly. There are puppies who have survived the illness, but even then, they are liable to catch every bug going as the virus doesn't just attack the intestinal tract, it absolutely hammers the immune system too...and that doesn't always recover 100%.

Sadly a puppy that survives a parvo onset can often be lost to a far more common ailment later on in life that an otherwise healthy dog wouldn't have a problem with. Parvo can be a double edged sword...survive it and chances are your pet could well be sickly for life.

It's a dreadful disease and whenever I see documentaries on television from the ASPCA, I shudder at the fact that vaccinating doesn't appear mandatory like here in the UK. We have not had a parvo outbreak in around 20 or so years and that is down to mandatory vaccination from puppy thru adult.