An alarming rise in cases of canine parvovirus, commonly known as parvo, has prompted Paws Haven to issue an urgent appeal to pet owners to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
The animal welfare organisation says it is seeing a significant increase in the number of puppies being brought to its facility suffering from parvo, with many of the young dogs sadly not surviving the highly contagious virus.
In a public notice, Paws Haven urged owners who have recently lost a puppy to parvo not to immediately bring another puppy into the same environment.
“Parvovirus is extremely contagious and can survive in your yard for five to seven months in direct sunlight and up to 12 months or longer in cool, shaded or damp areas,” the organisation said.
According to Paws Haven, introducing another unvaccinated puppy into a contaminated environment places the animal at an extremely high risk of contracting the virus.
The organisation advised pet owners to thoroughly clean and disinfect hard surfaces using products effective against parvovirus, remove all animal waste from their yards and allow sufficient time for the virus to die off naturally before considering another puppy.
For families unable to wait, Paws Haven recommends adopting an older, fully vaccinated dog instead.
“We know everyone wants to fill the hole left by losing a beloved pet, but waiting could save another puppy’s life,” the organisation said.
Canine parvovirus is an infectious DNA virus that primarily affects young and unvaccinated dogs by attacking rapidly dividing cells in the intestinal tract and bone marrow. In very young puppies, the virus can also damage heart muscle cells.
Veterinary experts say symptoms usually develop within three to seven days after infection and often begin with lethargy, a loss of appetite and fever. As the disease progresses, dogs may develop severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In severe cases, puppies can collapse, struggle to breathe, develop dangerously low blood sugar levels and experience a drop in white blood cell counts.
Parvovirus spreads through contact with contaminated faeces, but the virus can also survive on the ground, in kennels, on people’s hands, clothing and other objects. Dogs can even carry the virus on their fur or paws after coming into contact with contaminated material.
Although parvo is most commonly seen in puppies and adolescent dogs, unvaccinated adult and senior dogs are also at risk.
There is currently no specific cure for canine parvovirus. Treatment focuses on supportive care, including hospitalisation, intravenous fluids, medication to control vomiting, nutritional support and the correction of electrolyte imbalances. However, veterinarians say that with prompt and aggressive treatment, between 85% and 95% of infected puppies can survive.
The disease is also preventable through proper vaccination. Puppies should begin receiving vaccinations from around six weeks of age, followed by booster shots every three weeks until they are approximately 16 weeks old. Adult dogs should receive another vaccination at one year of age and then every three years thereafter.
Paws Haven has urged pet owners to remain vigilant and act responsibly to prevent unnecessary suffering.
“If you’re unsure whether it’s safe to adopt another puppy, please contact us. We’d much rather answer your questions than see another puppy become seriously ill,” the organisation said. “Together, we can protect our puppies and stop the spread of parvovirus.”
