I was told yesterday by a good friend in Anderson, IN that the parvo cases in Anderson have grown to nearly epidemic proportions. This information came from her vet as she is having issues with her own pups. I am not trying to sway people from attending the show. I will not be there myself. I do not know which strain of the virus is sweeping through that area, as there is a new one, however I was informed by my vet that the old virus has mutated into an even stronger more deadly virus. He has seen cases in the past few months like never before as well. I realize that there are risks such as this at any show, but I felt that this was worth sharing. I am just giving a heads up with information for those of you who will be attending with pups or even with pups back home. Please take precautions.
the show that is coming up is in Muncie...which i know isnt far (45 mins north) but all my dogs are current on vax which all show dogs must be including bordatella.. thanks for the info!! i will check into it. Charina Corrado Mastini 317.213.9033 Click me
The issue about vaccines, such as parvo, is that they cover certain strains, and strains mutate, and if this is a new strain, (I live in Mich, I know nothing about this), it won't be covered in current vaccines that are available. Anne
soo, i check into it Cassandra and I have talked to a few people and the onw guy we talked to has Dobs in Terre Haute which is south of Indy. all his pups died but apparently the Fort Dodge Vaccines were used on his dogs and they all got parvo. Not sure of the Ft. Dodge one not to use and is unreliable. i know there are puppy mills in Anderson and the surrounding area and i always hear of the puppy mills up there having parvo....which makes me sick! soo, apparently people are not either vaccinating there dogs properly/vets using the wrong vax or ??????
this sucks. i have no puppies (yet) and all my dogs are properly vaccinated so i am not worried about my dogs BUT Cassandra is only taking Galiano (since he doesnt live at her house) to the Muncie show since she Does have pups at her house. is your friend the one who just bought the 2 pups off of this board? that is from indiana? good luck to her and everyone else. Charina Corrado Mastini 317.213.9033 Click me
The girl who is having the issues is not on this board. She has EMs, and is not a PM by any means. This virus does not discriminate. All puppies whether from a puppy mill or a resposible breeder can contract it. It is very scary to me.
As far as I know there is not a vaccine available on the market that will protect against the new parvo strain. Please don't quote me as there may be one out there at this point. And I have heard of pups that had a full series of vacs still contracting the old yet "stronger virus". The vaccines work with the immune system, so if the immune system is not fully developed, the vacs will not be effective. So please be careful. As I said, "I realize that there are risks such as this at any show, but I felt that this was worth sharing. I am just giving a heads up with information for those of you who will be attending with pups or even with pups back home."
Thanks, Angie, for the advice. I will forward it along.
i wasnt meaning your friend was a PM....i have just heard of a few being up there (they sell to the local pet stores) and also Amish who in Indiana are Puppymills...(it was on the news and they admitted it and showed there kennels, auctions etc) so it could have wofted over in the wind for all i know. yes it can happend to anyone...it doesnt discriminate.
Here is some general information on Parvo for everyone Parvo - A Dangerous Canine Virus
Parvo - A Dangerous Canine Virus By Shirley Green
Published: GSDCA Review
Canine Parvovirus (CPV), commonly referred to as parvo, is a very serious viral disease in dogs. This illness first appeared in about 1978 and there was a widespread epidemic in dogs of all ages. As no dogs had been exposed or vaccinated at that time, dogs of all ages died from this infection. Veterinarian researchers believe that canine Parvovirus is a mutation from the feline Parvovirus, also known as feline distemper virus. Parvo has adapted over time and new strains have appeared. The good news is that the current vaccinations available protect against all strains.
Three Types of Parvo
- Asymptomatic - where the dog has no signs of having the disease. This is common in dogs over 1 year old and dogs previously vaccinated.
- Cardiac – this form of the disease has virtually been eliminated by immunization of bitches prior to having puppies. Before a vaccine was available, infected pups, under 3 months, would have severe inflammation, necrosis (death) and scarring of the heart muscle. Although rare, it may still occur, leaving a pup with chronic congestive heart failure, often leading to death in weeks or months.
- Intestinal – this is the form of the virus most commonly seen today. It causes extreme damage to the lining of the digestive tract. Parvo likes to grow in rapidly dividing cells and the intestinal lining has the biggest concentration of rapidly dividing cells in a puppy’s body. The virus attacks and destroys certain portions of the absorptive villi, the intestinal crypts. And, even with this form of Parvo, heart muscle damage may also occur.
Symptoms - Loss of appetite - Vomiting - Lethargy - High Fever - Diarrhea, often bloody - Foul smelling, liquid yellow stool
Parvovirus causes severe life-threatening illness, through dehydration, acid-base imbalance, infection and shock. If you suspect your pet may be infected, it is an emergency and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
How is it transmitted? Parvo is carried by dogs. Adult dogs may be infected carriers and not show any signs. Dogs with the typical symptoms and diarrhea, shed the virus perhaps for as long as 7 days after the symptoms have ended. Generally, it takes 3 to 10 days from the time of exposure for symptoms to appear and for your dog or pup to test positive. The onset of clinical signs is usually sudden, within 12 hours, or even less.
The Parvovirus is particularly long-lived in the environment, lasting anywhere from 1 to 7 months, or even longer. Due to the large amounts of virus particles shed in the feces of an infected dog and the ability of the virus to survive, complete eradication of the virus is often impossible.
Parvovirus is specific to canines and cannot be spread to humans or other pets of a different species, such as cats.
Parvo may be brought home to your pup on shoes, hands and even car tires. It is not an airborne illness. So, even if your dog or pup does not leave your yard, they may contract this disease. Therefore, it is vital to immunize your dog and also follow appropriate disinfecting procedures listed under Prevention.
Treatment In all but mild cases, treatment requires hospitalization and intensive management is essential. There is no magic drug to kill the virus and the patient requires supportive measures, which may include:
- intravenous fluid replacement to combat dehydration and control electrolyte levels - medication to control vomiting and diarrhea - antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections - blood transfusions – to replace protein loss, provide antibodies, help with anemia
If your pup survives the first 3-4 days, it will usually live. Dogs that recover are immune to the disease.
After your dog recovers completely, it should be isolated for at least 2 weeks and some resources advise isolation for as long as 30 days. This is in order to minimize spreading the virus.
Preventing Parvo Preventing parvo in your dog is a two-step approach:
F I R S T: Vaccinating your puppy and keeping your adult dog up-to-date with regular booster shots can prevent Parvovirus. Consult your veterinarian to determine an appropriate inoculation schedule.
S E C O N D: Follow these precautions to prevent the spread of the virus:
- Do not allow your puppy to socialize where other dogs have been until your veterinarian indicates it is safe to do so - - after puppy shots. It is much better to forego early socialization than to take unnecessary risks. After all, you cannot train a dead puppy!
- Ask your veterinarian about what vaccination protocol is best for your pet and stick to it.
- If you have been in an area where dogs frequent – park, pet store, etc. – disinfect your shoes and keep them outside your home. If parvo is rampant in your area, this also applies to your clothing. Be sure and wash your hands and then disinfect them using a solution of one part bleach to 30 parts water.
- There are several parvo disinfectants on the market but regular bleach is still 100% effective and much less costly. The dilution is one part of chlorine bleach to 30 parts of water. REMEMBER: bleach will remove color from dyed fabrics or objects, so the commercial disinfectants have that advantage.
Keep spray bottles filled with your disinfectant solution at each entry to your home and yard; ask guests to spray their shoes and hands. Pick up feces and vomitus immediately and then disinfect the area. It is much better to kill the grass or bleach the concrete than risk your pup! Keep the pup’s environment clean at all times.
Caution: Never, ever spray the bleach preparation on the animal at any time!
What If I Have A Parvo Pup? Keep the infected dog isolated from all other dogs for at least one month after full recovery. Use your 1:30 chlorine bleach solution to clean all food and water bowls and wash all bedding in this same bleach solution and hot water. Disinfect all other areas where that dog has been – linoleum, concrete walks, crates, etc. Discard toys and chew bones used by the infected pup. Check with your veterinarian to see if a booster shot is appropriate for other dogs in your household.
If you have had parvo in your home, use the bleach and water solution to kill it. Parvo can live up to seven months, or longer, in your home or yard. Before bringing home another dog, be certain it has a strong immunity built up to parvo. Have your veterinarian draw blood and run a titre to confirm how well your prospective dog will fare in a parvo-infected environment.
In Conclusion: Parvo is a highly contagious disease that is of epidemic proportions in many areas of our country. Practice disinfecting procedures. Watch your pup closely for any signs or symptoms and immediately seek veterinary assistance if they appear. Hold off on socializing your pup in group classes and dog parks until all puppy shots have been given and your veterinarian says it is appropriate.
And, share this information with your friends and their dogs. Spread the information - - not the disease.
--- All information contained in this article has been reviewed and approved by: Scott Darger, DVM of Power Road Animal Hospital, Mesa, AZ
Thanks Jessica, that was a great article. Do you know when it was published, becasue the "new" strain that I spoke of just started appearing in maybe, the last 8 months or so. It is so new, that some vets may not even be aware of it. I read about it before my vet did and informed him, which was only about 3 months ago. After he looked into it, he said that there is not a vaccine available for it yet. That may have changed since, however. SHELLY Click me
Colour Key:
