East London vets have issued an alert for dog owners to urgently vaccinate their dogs against the fatal parvovirus disease which is prevalent in the summer months and can lead to death.
They said they had already seen cases of the disease, also known as cat flu and which is extremely expensive to treat.
Greenfields vet Dr Pierre Hensburg said he had treated four dogs infected with the highly contagious virus this month and only two had survived.
“If they are brought in on time they have a 50% chance of survival, but if they are not given intensive treatment they die. It is a devastating disease and the saddest thing is that it is entirely preventable,” Hensburg said.
He explained that puppies are particularly susceptible to the virus which is spread when an infected dog vomits or defecates on a surface which is then sniffed or licked by another dog.
He said infected dogs suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting and severe cases required hospitalisation which could cost up to R8000 depending on how long they are treated.
Dr Willem Delport of the Beacon Bay Veterinary Clinic said it was critical that all puppies receive parvo vaccinations from the age of six weeks.
A booster is administered at 12 weeks, followed by another shot at 16 weeks. Dogs should also be given annual vaccinations after this.
“We are now at the beginning of the real parvo season. We have some cases in hospital already and we are expecting more,” said Delport.
Delport said that while the five-in-one vaccinations for puppies could cost under R1000, treating a dog sick with the virus could cost five times as much.
He said clients were sometimes under the impression that puppies they bought from some breeders and pet shops had been vaccinated.
“Breeders think they can save themselves a couple of bucks by administering the vaccination themselves, but they are not trained so sometimes new dog owners think their dogs are vaccinated, but it is not worth the vaccination given.”
He urged dog owners not to ignore the symptoms of parvo which include diarrhoea, vomiting and, in more advanced cases, blood in the stools and vomit. “If your puppy is lethargic and won’t eat take it to a vet as soon as possible because they have a better chance if brought in early.”
SPCA East London’s Lionel Taylor said all dogs admitted into the shelter received vaccinations, but that parvo cases brought into the SPCA’s hospital were often admitted too late.
“It is a deadly disease. We have two cases at the moment,” said Taylor. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Vets warn of killer virus outbreak infecting dogs
They said they had already seen cases of the disease, also known as cat flu and which is extremely expensive to treat.
Greenfields vet Dr Pierre Hensburg said he had treated four dogs infected with the highly contagious virus this month and only two had survived.
“If they are brought in on time they have a 50% chance of survival, but if they are not given intensive treatment they die. It is a devastating disease and the saddest thing is that it is entirely preventable,” Hensburg said.
He explained that puppies are particularly susceptible to the virus which is spread when an infected dog vomits or defecates on a surface which is then sniffed or licked by another dog.
He said infected dogs suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting and severe cases required hospitalisation which could cost up to R8000 depending on how long they are treated.
Dr Willem Delport of the Beacon Bay Veterinary Clinic said it was critical that all puppies receive parvo vaccinations from the age of six weeks.
A booster is administered at 12 weeks, followed by another shot at 16 weeks. Dogs should also be given annual vaccinations after this.
“We are now at the beginning of the real parvo season. We have some cases in hospital already and we are expecting more,” said Delport.
Delport said that while the five-in-one vaccinations for puppies could cost under R1000, treating a dog sick with the virus could cost five times as much.
He said clients were sometimes under the impression that puppies they bought from some breeders and pet shops had been vaccinated.
“Breeders think they can save themselves a couple of bucks by administering the vaccination themselves, but they are not trained so sometimes new dog owners think their dogs are vaccinated, but it is not worth the vaccination given.”
He urged dog owners not to ignore the symptoms of parvo which include diarrhoea, vomiting and, in more advanced cases, blood in the stools and vomit. “If your puppy is lethargic and won’t eat take it to a vet as soon as possible because they have a better chance if brought in early.”
SPCA East London’s Lionel Taylor said all dogs admitted into the shelter received vaccinations, but that parvo cases brought into the SPCA’s hospital were often admitted too late.
“It is a deadly disease. We have two cases at the moment,” said Taylor. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos