The Bowling Green Humane Society had close to 20 dogs die from Canine Parvovirus in two weeks, said Brandon Taylor, Bowling Green Humane Society operations manager.
Taylor said as of Saturday, Oct. 4, the Humane Society had 27 dogs brought in over the past two weeks with parvovirus. Only “about four or five” of the infected dogs survived, Taylor said.
Parvovirus is a fatal, highly contagious viral disease that affects unvaccinated dogs, predominantly puppies less than one year old, Taylor said. He said there is no “magic medicine,” or cure for parvovirus, but pet owners can prevent it with vaccinations.
Taylor said that 27 parvovirus cases in two weeks is extremely high. Taylor said he usually only sees maybe four cases of parvovirus each month.
“It’s highly contagious and can live on common surfaces for months to years,” Taylor said.
Taylor said people typically don’t mean any harm by not vaccinating their dogs, but they just aren’t always educated on the proper vaccinations their pet needs.
Taylor said the parvovirus vaccine must be given in a series of four doses. He said if a canine misses a shot, the series must be restarted.
The parvovirus vaccine is included in a combination vaccine that treats distemper, type 2 adenovirus, parainfluenza and parvovirus, often abbreviated as “DAPP,” “DA2PP,” or something similar, according to MetLife Pet Insurance. The Humane Society refers to it as “DA2PPV,” and the combination vaccine protects dogs against these other common canine viruses.
The American Veterinary Medical Association states that puppies should receive their first dose between six and eight weeks of age, then two more doses two to four weeks apart. It states that dogs older than 16 weeks with no previous vaccination should receive two doses two to four weeks apart.
A booster dose is recommended within one year after the last dose, and then another booster is given once every three years after that, according to the AVMA.
Signs of parvovirus include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, severe diarrhea — often bloody — abdominal pain and bloating, and fever or low body temperature, according to the AVMA. The website states to immediately contact a veterinarian if a pet shows any of these signs.
Taylor said owners can take their pets to the Hotaling Spay/Neuter Clinic between 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on any Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday for vaccinations on a walk-in basis. The Humane Society states on its website that the “DA2PPV (Canine Distemper/Parvo)” vaccine is free thanks to the Petco Love Foundation.
