Dog owners warned as parvovirus hits region

South West dog owners are being urged to keep unvaccinated pets inside as the region experiences an outbreak of the deadly parvovirus. The virus attacks the stomach lining of dogs, causing severe vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy among other symptoms, hitting puppies and younger dogs the hardest. Blair Street Vet Hospital veterinarian John Fulton said about half a dozen cases had come through his clinic in the past 10 days and he urged owners to update their dog’s vaccinations to ensure they did not contract the virus. “This is extremely contagious,” he said. “Make sure the dog’s vaccinations are up to date, the vaccinations are very effective provided they are up to date and the antibody levels are high. “For people whose dogs have never been vaccinated, do not take them out, do not take them to public areas where there are other dogs around and get them vaccinated as soon as possible.” Dr Fulton also had advice for breeders to give infant puppies the best chance of not contracting the virus before being of vaccination age. “Make sure the mother is vaccinated first, before they are born, because the mother will produce antibodies which are transported in the placenta and in the milk and that will provide immune protection for between six and 10 weeks,” he said. “They then get their vaccinations after six weeks and that should take over.” The parvovirus can survive in soil and grass for up to two years, making public parks and backyards where cases have been found almost impossible to decontaminate. Dogs can be symptomatic for up to a fortnight, but the particularly hardy virus can survive for much longer. “They will be actively shedding it for 10 days to two weeks, how long it lasts then on their fur and their bedding is a much, much longer time,” Dr Fulton said. Humans cannot be affected by the virus, and while other species of the virus can be contracted by other animals, dogs are the only species susceptible to this particular strain.