Parvovirus

Critter Chat

Happy New Year and welcome to another chapter in the life of Agnes Coast veterinary Clinic. Susannah, Joanne, Deborah and Mel hope you all had a happy Christmas and look forward to a year of happy and healthy pets.

With summer upon us, lots of visiting dogs in the area and new christmas puppies around we thought it was a great oppurtunity to talk about parvovirus. Canine parvovirus is a highly infectious virus that obviously affect dogs, and summer is usually when we see an outbreak. It viciously attacks dogs gastrointestinal tract, causing them to shed their gut lining, causing severe bloody diarrhoea, uncontrollable vomiting, severe abdominal pain, profound cardiovascular shock and sadly often death. Pretty horrific!

Parvo Virus can affect dogs of all ages but is most common and most serious in puppies and older dogs that have not been vaccinated against the disease. Parvo is highly contagious and is spread by both direct dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated materials or people. It is resistant to heat, cold and humidity, and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. The fact that it so hardy and so easily spread is what makes parvo so devestating, as this means the virus can contaminate the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs, kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and you can even bring it home on the bottom of your shoes if you have walked through a contaminated environment. And if wandering dogs or strays are shedding parvo then the contaminated areas can be extensive.Parvovirus is treatable but its difficult and expensive, and unfortunately not always with a successful outcome, particularly in unvaccinated puppies.

Signs that your dog may have Parvo may include vomiting and bloody diarrhoea severe abdominal pain and lethargy. If your dog is showing any of these signs seek veterinary advice immediately.

So now for some good news – Parvo Virus is easily preventable with a really effective vaccination. Puppies require two vaccinations at 6 and 12 weeks of age ( and often a third in areas with regular parvo outbreaks) and then once a year for life. This once a year vaccination also protects your pooch from other canine viruses such as distemper, infectious hepatitis and kennel cough. So if your family was lucky enough to expand by a puppy over the christmas break, then please check if it has already been vaccinated and when it is next due, because there is nothing sadder for us than seeing a desperatly ill little puppy sick with a life threatening disease that so easily could have been prevented.