Parvovirus!
Stacey (willowsprite) this has just come through to me via our website, and SA is next to our state, with lots of dogs travelling between states for shows etc. Kelsey has not been vaccinated for 2 years, is there a worry there with older dogs contracting Parvo or is it just more proned to younger ones, & do you think she will still be covered. Really need to know as this outbreak in SA sounds really bad. lisaoes |
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| I would think she would be fine, but to be sure, have blood titers done to check the amount of antibodies in her system. If they are low you can revaccinate, if not then you should be fine. Don't wait to check them though, because a blood titer only shows the amount of antibodies, which means it can be high due to good immunity, or high because your dog has been exposed and is fighting it off, or high because your dog has it and is fighting it off.
If you make sure to check her when there are no symptoms, you can be reasonably sure it is her immune response not a virus causing any results. Parvo is so scary.... I hope all your furkids stay safe from it. |
| Also, the main thing with vaccinations, if your dog is vaccinated on the proper schedule as a pup they should have immunity for life, but if you get a pup it's first shots before 8 weeks it may or may not have taken effect, depending on when the pup stopped nursing from it's mother. A vaccination at 6 weeks is neutralized by the antibodies passed from the mother, and is rendered useless. It is also important to get puppy vaccination ON TIME. If first shots are at 8 weeks, second shots should be between 3-4 weeks after, no longer than 4 weeks. Each of those first 3 vaccinations boost immunity in levels, think of it as tiers. After 4 weeks the level begins to drop if it is not re boosted in time. If the levels drop, full immunity is never achieved. By the final puppy booster, levels have peaked and will go no higher. That is when full immunity is achieved. |
| Thanks for that info stacey, will go and get the blood test done just in case it spreads to Melbourne. One more question, is it an airborne virus or contact to contact virus? |
| No it is not airborn, the virus is shed in fecal matter mostly, but it can survive for months in the environment. So if an infected dog poops in the park, the owner picks up the poop, another dog walks on that spot and licks it's paw, boom. People can carry it on their clothing and shoes and bring it home as well.
It is hard to kill, it has a different structure than most viruses, and in the US it has mutated after contact with the feline distemper virus making it even harder to kill. It is considered a "ubiquitous" virus, meaning it is almost everywhere, and all dogs are exposed ot it at some point. It mostly affects puppies because it attacks and reproduces in rapidly dividing cells. Most adult dogs, even ones who have never been vaccinated, have developed some immunity to parvo throughout their lives. A dog, vaccinated or not, who is stressed or already ill is at far greater risk. |
| There's a really bad strain of Parvo hitting this area right now. One of the K-9 officers was talking about it while we were at the dog park. He was freaked out that all of the owners just let their water bowls lay around full when they are done.
It is being contracted through shared bowl usage but I can't remember all the details; if it's saliva or secondary contact from licking the rear end and then transferring to the bowls. Generally, you want to treat it like hepatitus. Don't share active food or drinking containers, grooming tools (including toothbrushes) and definitely monitor your dog in those communal bathroom areas. |
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