Story Published:
Nov 13, 2005 at 11:39 AM PDT
Story Updated:
Aug 20, 2006 at 10:21 PM PDT
- MEDFORD, Ore. - Parvovirus, a disease that can be fatal to
puppies is spreading in southern Oregon, according to veterinarians
and animal shelter workers.
Veterinarian Shannon Sierra, who works at Best Friends Animal
Hospital in Talent said he's seen a "dramatic increase" recently,
treating six cases in the last three months alone. All those dogs
survived, including one recovering pup he sent home Thursday.
The Jackson County Animal Shelter has seen five cases in the
last 30 days, including dogs who came to the shelter sick, a litter
that sickened Saturday and a puppy that died Tuesday after going
home with new owners.
The disease-causing virus is transmitted in excrement and is
highly contagious to unvaccinated dogs. It attacks the intestinal
lining, causing diarrhea and vomiting and blocking the absorption
of nutrients and water. Untreated, dogs with parvo can die of
dehydration or secondary infections within days, Sierra said. The
disease can't spread to people or other animals.
Prevention requires three shots delivered in boosters three
weeks apart, starting when a puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old. Treatment
can run hundreds of dollars a day for several days, clinics
reported.
Because of the rise in parvovirus, the Jackson County animal
shelter has stepped up sanitation, requiring visitors to walk
through a sanitizing solution. People adopting animals can't bring
other pets to meet potential new additions and must sign an
adoption agreement outlining the risk that shelter animals could
have been exposed to disease
Alan Stroud, of Medford, said the warning should be heeded. He
adopted a border collie-Australia shepherd mix for his wife last
weekend. Although warned about parvo, the Strouds attributed the
pup's vomiting and diarrhea to the stress of change, which shelter
workers told them could upset a puppy's tummy.
By Tuesday, a vet told the couple the extremely ill dog had
parvo and a limited chance of recovery. They had their new puppy
put to sleep.
"If I could just warn people that this is out there, that's the
least I could do," Stroud said.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)