Parvo virus still a threat

Parvo virus is a disease that affects dogs and there is a vaccine for it. However, there are still outbreaks of Parvo virus throughout the world, as you can read in the article from Santa Ana, California below.

Vaccinations are available to protect your dog against this virus. Vaccinations are important or you could find yourself learning a very tough lesson. I had a dog, whose name was Pumpkin, who contracted Parvo virus. Thankfully, we caught it early enough that it was treated. However, he was never really the same after that. He had the ’shakes’, similar to human Parkinson’s Disease. He was really lucky to live through that. I have all my dogs vaccinated now - I never want to go through that again with any of my beloved animals.

Outbreak of dog disease ’still ongoing’
Santa Ana is offering low-cost vaccinations against potentially lethal parvovirus.
By DOUG IRVING

The Orange County RegisterSANTA ANA The city will offer an emergency dog-vaccination clinic on Tuesday evening as health officials struggle to get control of a local outbreak of potentially lethal canine parvovirus.The clinic will be from 6 to 8 p.m. near the parking structure outside Civic Center Building 28, at the corner of Santa Ana Boulevard and Parton Street. Parvo vaccines will be available for $16.

Visit www.ocpetinfo.com for information about other low-cost vaccination clinics planned for the coming weeks.

The disease has already sickened dozens of dogs in the county. Several have died, although an exact number is unavailable, because no single agency tracks that statistic.

Animal-health officials say they’ve seen a troubling increase in cases across central Orange County, especially in poorer neighborhoods where fewer dogs are vaccinated.

Today, officials said they had seen no evidence that the outbreak was easing. In the past week alone, the county’s Animal Care Services agency has seen nine dogs suffering the effects of parvo infection – twice the number it would expect for an entire month.

The outbreak “is still ongoing,” shelter spokesman Ryan Drabek said.

In all, the agency has seen 60 dogs sickened with parvo since August. Many had to be euthanized, in part to keep them from infecting other dogs.

Parvovirus attacks a dog’s digestive tract and can spread to the heart. In its early stages, the disease causes lethargy and a loss of appetite. But the symptoms worsen quickly, with vomiting and severe, often bloody, diarrhea, following.

Dogs should get a series of parvo vaccines as puppies, and then a regular booster every three years.

Story courtesy of The OC Register

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