The Garden City Telegram
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Vets remind pet owners that parvo is prevalent
Published 10/11/2007 in News : Area coverage By Emily Behlmann
With word that three dogs at the Garden City Animal Shelter have come down with parvovirus, the pound attendant and veterinarians are encouraging pet owners to have their dogs vaccinated during what they say can be a prevalent time of year for the often-deadly virus.
Parvovirus is a "highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract of puppies, dogs and wild canines," according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Karen Casanova, animal pound attendant at the shelter, said one dog probably had been exposed to the disease before coming into the shelter, and that two others likely acquired the disease during their time there. All three animals have been isolated, and with them contained, she said she doesn't think there is risk of an outbreak at the shelter.
Parvovirus is most prevalent during the spring and the fall, Casanova said.
David Sells, a veterinarian with Garden City Veterinary Clinic, has described the virus as "very common" and said he sees cases every year, with dogs that have not been vaccinated having a 75 to 80 percent chance of being infected if they are exposed.
At the shelter, any dogs that appear to be sick when they come in are automatically isolated.
According to a pamphlet the Animal Shelter distributes, which comes from the American Veterinary Medical Association, parvovirus causes lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and severe, often bloody, diarrhea.
Because death can occur quickly -- sometimes between 24 and 48 hours after onset of these symptoms -- dog owners who observe such behavior should contact a vet immediately, Sells said.
The American Veterinary Medical Association emphasizes prevention through vaccines and good hygiene.
A parvovirus vaccination should be administered starting when puppies are 6 weeks old and must be given every three to four weeks until a dog has acquired three doses, Sells said. The process should be repeated every year, and although no vaccination is 100 percent effective, the shots give a 98 to 99 percent chance of immunity, Sells said.
At the shelter, any animal that could be adopted is given a vaccine every two weeks that protects against parvovirus and distemper, Casanova said.
Animal control officers inform adopters of how far along an animal is with vaccinations, and depending on its age and the time it has been at the shelter, new pet owners might need to seek further vaccinations at a vet's office, she said. Vets also can advise pet owners of whether booster shots are needed.
Because parvovirus can spread easily, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that pet owners take care when bringing pets to places where young puppies congregate, at least until a vaccination series is complete.
Exposure could come from direct contact with a sick dog or from contact with that dog's stool, but the resistant virus also can be carried on a person's clothes or shoes.
To prevent spread of the disease, workers at the shelter make sure a dog with parvovirus isn't taken out by volunteers, and they clean it only after cleaning the healthy dogs, Casanova said. They also soak any items, like food dishes, in bleach water.
If a pet owner suspects traces of the virus at home, veterinarians recommend using bleach (2 ounces per gallon of water) to disinfect surfaces like floors, walls, bowls and toys. The American Veterinary Medical Association suggests preventing dogs from coming in contact with fecal waste of other dogs.
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