Parvo vaccination season underway

With puppy season in full swing, dog owners should take caution to prevent their puppies from contracting parvovirus.

Parvo, as the disease commonly is known, attacks the intestinal lining of puppies, causing dehydration and secondary infections that are often fatal if left untreated.

"The best way to prevent parvo infection is to get your puppy vaccinated," said Dr. Christi Foutz of Skyview Animal Clinic.

Foutz said she's seen several cases of parvo recently, including one last weekend.

Cheryle Dillon, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, said a puppy with parvo was admitted to the facility last week.

Dillon said the Humane Society sees 10 to 12 cases of parvo yearly.

In order to stop transmission of the disease, the infected puppy and the dogs on either side of it in the kennel were euthanized, Dillon said.

"After those animals are put down, we sanitize the cages twice," Dillon said. "No animals are housed in those cages for the next four days to prevent the spread of parvo."

Foutz said the antibodies puppies receive from their mothers wear off after six to 10 weeks, so immunization is crucial.

"Puppies should get vaccinated every three weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age," Foutz said. "If they don't, there is a very good chance that they'll come down with parvo."

A puppy's underdeveloped immune system makes it much more likely to contract parvo than an older dog, according to Foutz.

Parvo is spread through fecal matter from infected dogs. Foutz said flies spread the disease most often, but any animal or human that contacts the fecal matter can spread it.

Symptoms of parvo include lethargy, diarrhea and vomiting.

The virus can survive up to 12 days in fecal matter and up to three months in infected areas such as cages.

Once a puppy is infected, Foutz said, all she can do is attempt to keep the dog strong to fight the virus. There is no specific medication for parvo.

"We put in an IV to combat the dehydration from the diarrhea and vomiting," Foutz said. "We also give antibiotics to keep down infection and anti-nausea medicine if vomiting is a problem with the animal."

Foutz said if infected puppies do not receive treatment, they only have a 40 percent chance of survival. Skyview has seen a 75 percent success rate in treating infected puppies, she said.

pwylie@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127