Vets issue urgent warning over spike in virus that can be deadly for dogs in New York

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An urgent warning for pet owners in New York and Washington DC has been released following a spike in a deadly dog ??virus.

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Dog owners have been warned about parvovirus, often referred to as parvo — a highly contagious disease that can be deadly to dogs.

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New York health officials issued an alert saying that as of March 14, the Animal Care Centers (ACC) had diagnosed 14 dogs, the majority of which were puppies and younger dogs in facilities in the Bronx and Manhattan.

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And at a Missouri shelter, puppy cases have spiked, with some vets seeing five or six sick dogs a day.

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In 2021 there was a surge in canine parvo cases in the UK and 45 per cent of registered owners were found not to be up to date with key vaccinations.

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Veterinarians from the nonprofit organization had seen several cases of parvo in just 24 hours.

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Dr. Robin Brennen, ACC’s senior vice president of Animal Health & Welfare, said: ‘Normally we see a limited number of parvo cases in any given year.

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“But in 2023 we have already seen so many cases and that number continues to rise.”

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The centers advised dog owners to have their pets vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus.

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Parvo causes acute gastrointestinal disease and, rarely, myocarditis in dogs.

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It does not infect humans. In dogs, the most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.

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Parvo spreads through contact with infected feces and kills 90 percent of infected pets if left untreated.

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But with proper treatment, including through fluids, antiemetics, antibiotics, and nutritional support, 90 percent of dogs recover.

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Any unvaccinated dog is at risk, but puppies between six and 20 weeks old are more likely to get sick.

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Symptoms usually appear within five to seven days of exposure. The first warning signs may be lethargy, loss of appetite and fever.

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These can quickly progress to vomiting and hemorrhagic diarrhea (blood in the stool), but a quarter of infected dogs may have non-hemorrhagic diarrhea.

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Dogs shed the virus in their feces even before they show symptoms.

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The ACC recommends that dog owners make sure their pet’s parvo vaccination is up to date.

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Owners should also not allow their dogs to touch other dogs’ feces.

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Kansas City Pet Project in Missouri has an isolated Parvo ward because the bug spreads so easily.

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Tori Fugate, the spokesperson for the Pet Project, said the shelter has 12 puppies infected with parvo, which is more than usual.

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Rachel Lunsford, an urgent care technician at the Pet Resource Center in Kansas City, shared WDAF: “Parvo is something you never know if they’re going to make it or not.”

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She added: “We see two to three cases of parvo every day. There are days I can see five or six.’

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Veterinarian Dr. Hannah Lau told us WNBC: ‘Young, unvaccinated dogs are at the greatest risk of parvovirus.

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“Any breed of dog can become sick with parvovirus, but Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, American Pit Bull Terriers, English Spring Spaniels and German Shepherds may see an increased risk.”

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