300 Dogs a Month Dying From Parvovirus May 11, 2009 by
PDSA Preventable dog disease claiming too many lives, says PDSA:Vets from the UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA, are warning
that the deadly dog infection parvovirus is present and dangerous in
Britain - with an estimated 300 new cases of the disease seen at its
PetAid hospitals in one month.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly infectious disease that can lead
to death. It mainly affects younger dogs and in advanced stages, can
kill nine out of ten animals.
Some dogs can survive the infection with intensive veterinary and
nursing care. But with over 25 per cent of cases proving fatal, PDSA is
urging all dog owners to vaccinate their pets to prevent them from
contracting the disease and risking death.
PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon Sean Wensley said: “Parvovirus
makes dogs extremely ill which is distressing for both them and their
owners. PDSA staff at some PetAid hospitals have seen a large influx of
very sick pets over the past few weeks.
“The virus normally affects a dog’s intestines, causing
signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The faeces will also often
contain mucus or blood. Dogs with parvovirus can also become subdued
and lethargic very quickly, and go off their food. If a dog develops
any of these signs, they should receive immediate veterinary
attention.”
Some dogs will recover but others can die within hours of showing signs.
Checks carried out at around half of PDSA’s 47 PetAid
hospitals in recent weeks revealed that at least 160 new canine
parvovirus cases had been seen in a single month, so the actual number
seen by the charity could be double this.
Information* gathered by the charity also show stark regional
variations in the prevalence of parvovirus. Samples were taken from
over 350 dogs suspected of having the disease: In northern England, 78
per cent of dogs sampled tested positive, compared to Scotland where it
was just 13 per cent. In Wales 70 percent of suspect cases proved
positive, along with 65 per cent in the Midlands.
The information gathered also confirmed that unvaccinated dogs were more likely to test positive for the virus.
Sean Wensley added: “Ensure your puppy receives their
vaccinations to provide good protection against this disease. Follow
your vet’s advice on booster injections, which are usually once a
year, because an animal’s immunity to the infection decreases
over time.”
Thu Aug 02, 2018 3:35 pm by Lorz
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