Shelters and Veterinarians have seen an increase recently in Canine Parvo virus, a highly contagious viral illness that affects the lining of the intestinal wall. It can affect dogs of all ages, but it is most common in dogs younger than one year. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected dog or indirectly through its fecal matter or vomit. Since the Parvo virus can live for a year in the soil and is resistant to most cleaning products as well as weather changes, it is important to take precautions to protect your pet. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your pet safe.
Tips for Prevention:
- The most effective way to protect your dog from Parvo is to vaccinate him. Keeping current on all animal vaccinations will help to prevent further spread of the disease. One round of shots for your puppy is not enough to keep them safe.
- Keep young puppies away from public places for the first 22 weeks of their life because even if he is vaccinated, his immunity is not adequate to protect him.
- Properly disinfect food and water bowls, bedding, crates, or kennels with a 1:30 ratio of chlorine bleach and water solution.
Even though parvo can be prevented, there are still puppies that continue to contract the disease everyday because they have not been vaccinated. Be sure to consult your family veterinarian to establish a vaccination schedule. To read more about the Parvo virus, click here.
Upcoming Events:
Stop by and visit Braxton’s Animal Works at the following community events.
Sept. 15th: Wayne Business Association’s Radnor Fall Festival & Top Dog Contest on North Wayne Avenue
Sept. 21st: Willistown Conservation Trust’s Run a Muck
Sept. 22nd: Braxton’s Harvest Fest
Sept. 28th: Sprout Fest Rescue Day
Oct. 6th: Paoli Blues Fest
Having a puppy has its privileges, the unconditional love for one thing. But it also has responsibilities. One of them is vaccinating your puppy and making sure those vaccinations are up-to-date, especially now more than ever, because the parvovirus is making a comeback in Lancaster County. The outbreak is connected to three locations: Perry Street in Columbia, a litter of puppies on Beaver Street in Lancaster and another from Atlantic Avenue. Some of those dogs had to be euthanized. The parvovirus doesn't effect humans, but for puppies, it can be deadly. "You have these huge outbreaks of diseases that are these huge outbreaks and every body freaks out. Then they develop a vaccine and it goes away and then people forget about it and they don't vaccinate, " said Dr. Robert Sarsfield, Animal Hospital of Dauphin County. At the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County, Veterinarian Dr. Robert Sarsfield says they see about three to four cases a year, but that is down from hundreds in the early 1980s, when the virus was first seen in dogs. " It is almost identical to the cats distemper virus and what the experts think happened is that the cat distemper virus mutated and became able to infect dogs," said Dr. Sarsfield. Aside from vaccinating your pooch, keep your pets food bowls clean. Also, the virus can live in feces and the surrounding soil for up to a year and can survive in extreme heat and cold. " The most effective thing aside from vaccination is controlling the environment your dog is in. Having a fence, where dogs can't get in and go to the bathroom. Probably avoiding dog parks," said Sarsfield. Dr. Sarsfield says if your dog has the virus, they'll appear tired and stop eating. Parvovirus destroys the cells that line a dog' s intestinal tract. It progresses quickly and leads to bloody diarrhea and bloody vomiting. Dr. Sarsfield says parvovirus is treatable with antibiotics. 90-95% of the time dogs get better, but require a hospital stay.Read More at: http://www.local21news.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/parvo-virus-rise-dog-owners-urged-vaccinate-1303.shtml
Having a puppy has its privileges, the unconditional love for one thing. But it also has responsibilities. One of them is vaccinating your puppy and making sure those vaccinations are up-to-date, especially now more than ever, because the parvovirus is making a comeback in Lancaster County. The outbreak is connected to three locations: Perry Street in Columbia, a litter of puppies on Beaver Street in Lancaster and another from Atlantic Avenue. Some of those dogs had to be euthanized. The parvovirus doesn't effect humans, but for puppies, it can be deadly. "You have these huge outbreaks of diseases that are these huge outbreaks and every body freaks out. Then they develop a vaccine and it goes away and then people forget about it and they don't vaccinate, " said Dr. Robert Sarsfield, Animal Hospital of Dauphin County. At the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County, Veterinarian Dr. Robert Sarsfield says they see about three to four cases a year, but that is down from hundreds in the early 1980s, when the virus was first seen in dogs. " It is almost identical to the cats distemper virus and what the experts think happened is that the cat distemper virus mutated and became able to infect dogs," said Dr. Sarsfield. Aside from vaccinating your pooch, keep your pets food bowls clean. Also, the virus can live in feces and the surrounding soil for up to a year and can survive in extreme heat and cold. " The most effective thing aside from vaccination is controlling the environment your dog is in. Having a fence, where dogs can't get in and go to the bathroom. Probably avoiding dog parks," said Sarsfield. Dr. Sarsfield says if your dog has the virus, they'll appear tired and stop eating. Parvovirus destroys the cells that line a dog' s intestinal tract. It progresses quickly and leads to bloody diarrhea and bloody vomiting. Dr. Sarsfield says parvovirus is treatable with antibiotics. 90-95% of the time dogs get better, but require a hospital stay.Read More at: http://www.local21news.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/parvo-virus-rise-dog-owners-urged-vaccinate-1303.shtml
Having a puppy has its privileges, the unconditional love for one thing. But it also has responsibilities. One of them is vaccinating your puppy and making sure those vaccinations are up-to-date, especially now more than ever, because the parvovirus is making a comeback in Lancaster County. The outbreak is connected to three locations: Perry Street in Columbia, a litter of puppies on Beaver Street in Lancaster and another from Atlantic Avenue. Some of those dogs had to be euthanized. The parvovirus doesn't effect humans, but for puppies, it can be deadly. "You have these huge outbreaks of diseases that are these huge outbreaks and every body freaks out. Then they develop a vaccine and it goes away and then people forget about it and they don't vaccinate, " said Dr. Robert Sarsfield, Animal Hospital of Dauphin County. At the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County, Veterinarian Dr. Robert Sarsfield says they see about three to four cases a year, but that is down from hundreds in the early 1980s, when the virus was first seen in dogs. " It is almost identical to the cats distemper virus and what the experts think happened is that the cat distemper virus mutated and became able to infect dogs," said Dr. Sarsfield. Aside from vaccinating your pooch, keep your pets food bowls clean. Also, the virus can live in feces and the surrounding soil for up to a year and can survive in extreme heat and cold. " The most effective thing aside from vaccination is controlling the environment your dog is in. Having a fence, where dogs can't get in and go to the bathroom. Probably avoiding dog parks," said Sarsfield. Dr. Sarsfield says if your dog has the virus, they'll appear tired and stop eating. Parvovirus destroys the cells that line a dog' s intestinal tract. It progresses quickly and leads to bloody diarrhea and bloody vomiting. Dr. Sarsfield says parvovirus is treatable with antibiotics. 90-95% of the time dogs get better, but require a hospital stay.Read More at: http://www.local21news.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/parvo-virus-rise-dog-owners-urged-vaccinate-1303.shtml