Parvovirus is highly contagious, often fatal viral disease of dogs. It is typically characterized by anorexia, depression, and fever, progressing to vomiting and diarrhoea (often bloody) within 24 to 48 hours. Dogs with PVE quickly become dehydrated and weak. You may notice your dog’s gums become darker (dark pink/red) than normal and the heart rate is elevated. Infection normally occurs following direct contact with an infected dog. Large concentrations of the virus are found in an infected dog’s faeces. The virus particles can be easily spread by hands, shoes and clothing.
Source: vets-now.com
Those looking to adopt cats or dogs should be sensitive to possible health risks of the pets in the initial stages of ownership, according to a local official.
That is especially true with dogs as this area is in "peak parvo season," characterized by a hot, moist environment, said Montgomery County Animal Resource Center Director Mark Kumpf.
He said the ARC vaccinates and worms every animal, provides other care – such as shots against canine influenza – and counsels those adopting from the center. But “I think some folks have the misconception that this dog is immune from everything,” Kumpf said.
“Kind of the thing we want them to get is we’re the functional equivalent of a used dog store,” he said. “Most of our inventory we have no idea where it came from. We don’t know that it’s ever seen a vet ever in its life.
“We don’t know if it’s ever had any shot,” Kumpf added. “We don’t know what kind of care or what it’s had before it came to us. So we do what we do to start that process.”
His comments follow what he said was the first fatal case of parvo in 2016 involving the center – which has handled more than 2,000 dogs this year. While Kumpf said the ARC “is very vigilant” on parvo, a test can show a dog has no signs of it and then develop them within hours.
That may have been the case this past week, after a Dayton woman adopted a puppy Kumpf said was about six months old. Picked up on Aug. 13, the new owner who described the black lab named Murphy as “the happiest little puppy we’ve ever seen” said by Tuesday the pet had been euthanized due to parvo.
While parvo is likely to occur under current weather conditions, dogs – and cats, of which the center has handled more than 500 this year – are likely to be more susceptible to illness upon adoption for other reasons, Kumpf said.
Their immune systems are weaker because they were likely spayed or neutered the day before, and they are moving from an environment in which bleaches and disinfectants are used liberally to one which may not be as sterile, he said.
About the Author
