PDSA warns dog owners on parvovirus
The People Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) has warned dog owners to be vigilant after an outbreak of the parvovirus. Owners who believe their dog may have been infected have been recommended to keep their animals isolated and seek veterinary assistance urgently. It has also been advised that owners should not bring sick animals to veterinary surgeries without a prior appointment to prevent risking the transmission of the disease to any unvaccinated animals present.
The PDSA's Llanelli and Swansea PetAid hospitals have seen 16 suspected cases of the disease between January and March of this year and the mortality rate has hit 70% despite intensive care and the best efforts of the PDSA's staff. The virus is commonly lethal in puppies, but fatalities have also been reported amongst adult dogs that would normally be considered to have a better chance of survival.
The PDSA has also highlighted the need for vaccinating against the disease, and Senior Veterinary Surgeon of the Swansea PDSA Chris Wright has noted that "Every year our vets treat hundreds of pets with illness that vaccinations could have prevented. Often the owners simply didn't realise the dangers facing their unvaccinated pets, and sadly many cases prove fatal. It can be heart-breaking for owners to lose their pets this way, or to see them suffering from an easily preventable illness."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
