LEWISTON, Maine — Local veterinarians are watching a sudden rise in cases of canine parvo, a potentially deadly dog virus.
In recent months, at least 15 dogs have been treated at the Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine, said Dr. Robert Clark, a member of the Lewiston clinic’s board.
Typically, the clinic sees about one parvo case each month, he said.
“The problem is it’s easy to prevent,” Clark said. Vaccines are readily available. They’re a routine part of veterinary care that costs less than $100. “Probably 90 percent of the clients [the clinic] is seeing don’t have a regular veterinarian.”
Besides helping at the clinic, Clark runs the Lisbon Road Animal Hospital in Lewiston. There, he has had two or three cases.
Most of the cases are coming from downtown Lewiston, he said. Many have been pit bulls.
“A lot of dogs are put to sleep, and we shouldn’t have to,” he said. “I do wonder if the economy is part of it. Instead of going out and taking care of their dogs, people are spending money on something else.”
The virus is passed on when a dog has oral contact with feces from an infected dog. In places where there is a large pet population, like downtown Lewiston, it can spread rapidly.
“It’s so contagious,” Clark said. “It can last in the environment for up to two years.”
And it takes only one sick dog to infect many.
Technically, one ounce of infected feces carries enough of the virus to infect 35,000 dogs, said Dr. Jeff Mayerson of the Lewiston Veterinary Hospital on the Stetson Road. The hospital has seen four cases this year, about four times the usual number, he said.
The illness’s effects on a dog can be catastrophic.
They often start with weakness and poor appetite. Vomiting and diarrhea follow as the virus attacks the digestive organs. Its effects seem to be particularly severe on puppies and certain breeds, including Rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherds.
Treatments for dogs diagnosed with parvo focus on keeping them strong to outlast the virus.
The weaker ones die.
“It’s a crying shame,” Clark said.
Some of the sick dogs have wound up at the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society shelter in Lewiston. Three or four have arrived in recent weeks, said Executive Director Steve Dostie.
All were severely ill when they arrived. All died.
“It is very sad,” Dostie said. “What gets you going is that it is very preventable. It drives you crazy.”
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Dogs can be at risk even if they’re vaccinated. Seen it happen. But, the vaccine is the only thing available. That, and keeping your dog on your property and not letting them go where lots of dogs go.
I had a puppy who came down with it when it first emerged in the late 70s. It’s a horrible horrible disease. She survived, but it was touch and go for a week.
Please people, get your dogs vaccinated and keep them away from other dogs and the areas they frequent until the vaccinations are complete. The virus can live in the soil for MONTHS.
Thank you, Sue, for the comment, even though the ones that need to know won’t read it.
After watching the ‘Emergency Vets’ series on Animal Planet, I have a much better understanding than before. Most cases were litters of puppies that can’t be inoculated until a certain age (8-12 wks?), making it particularly tough to deal with. Very few made it to that age. :(
But that still goes back to being unvaccinated. The pups should get maternal antibodies, thus providing them with immunity until their own series of shots can start at 8 weeks. But if the dam isn’t vaccinated, well, you’ve seen the tragic results.
Bleach and water at a 1:10 dilution also kills the germs. Although if it’s a shelter, it should (but often isn’t) be routine cleaning. And if it’s a litter of puppies at home, no visitors whatsoever unless they’ve stepped in the bleach solution before coming inside.
A good rule of thumb is no feet on the ground in public for the puppy until the vaccination series is complete.
I would never want to go through parvo again. Never.
Good info. The teaching vet clinic I mentioned (Alamede East?) would put them into immediate quarantine. Since we are now a cat family on the 11th floor, my doggie days are over, but in the off chance somebody learns from your post, I thank you.