Puppies hit hard by virus

PREVENTION: Veterinarians recommend inoculating puppies against Canine Parvovirus.

A sudden increase in a virus potentially fatal to dogs has many pet owners bringing in their sick pets to South County veterinarians. The virus, Canine Parvovirus, was identified in seven dogs last week at the Anderson Veterinary Clinic, said Dr. Marilee King, clinic owner.

The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system and can lead to lethargy, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, King said. Treatment for the virus can take a couple days for older puppies or a week for new puppies.

Rather than leaving dogs vulnerable to the virus and pet owners vulnerable to a costly hospital bill, King urged all dog owners to get their dogs vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian for the virus.

Puppies, she added, require a series of injections of the vaccines, while older dogs need annual vaccines "until your veterinarian recommends otherwise," she said in an e-mail to the Valley Post.

The virus passes from the dog through feces, and the virus can live for seven years in the soil, King said. Dogs that are kept indoors are not protected from the virus either, as people can carry the virus from the outside on the bottoms of their shoes, she said.

Seven dogs sick with the virus were also brought to the Cottonwood Veterinary Clinic in the last month, according to Dr. Oscar Hooton.

While the increase this month was higher than usual, Hooton added it typically increases every autumn.

"The change in weather can bring it up out of the ground," said Dr. Cyanna Brauning of Haven Humane Society, who reported five cases of the virus last week.

King also warned that not all store-bought vaccines will protect against all forms of the virus. Two brands that do, she said, are Fort Dodge and Pfizer. King also cautioned that home vaccinations may not be mixed properly or stored at an incorrect temperature.