Parvo warning for Townsville as outbreak hits, puppy dies

Townsville pet owners have been warned to get their dogs vaccinated in the wake of an alarming outbreak of the highly infectious parvovirus, which has already claimed one pup’s life.

Townsville pet owners have been warned to get their dogs vaccinated in the wake of an alarming outbreak of the highly infectious parvovirus, which has already claimed one pup’s life.

Angel-Paws Pet Rescue general manager Larissa Huxley said they had experienced a wave of parvovirus cases after the recent wet weather.

They detected the deadly disease in five puppies that were surrendered to them last week.

The sick pups were taken to the vet for care, but one sadly passed away from parvo on Wednesday night.

It comes as Townsville Veterinary Clinic also reported an “alarming number” of parvo cases in the dogs they’ve treated recently.

Five puppies with parvovirus were recently surrendered to Angel Paws Pet Rescue in Townsville. Picture: Facebook

In an online post, they urged locals to ensure their puppies and dogs are up to date with vaccinations.

If your dog is not fully vaccinated or has lapsed vaccinations, you should notify a vet if they are showing signs of inappetence, diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

Ms Huxley said Angel-Paws, a not-for-profit organisation, was now looking to raise some funds to help pay for the sick pups’ vet bills.

“It’s devastating we lost one of the boys, but we think the remaining pups can pull through this,” she said.

“Depending on how long it takes then to recover, we’re looking at a bill of more than $6000 at this stage to get them back to good health.

“It’s a stark reminder for pet owners out there to monitor your own dog’s symptoms and keep them away from dog parks if they are exhibiting any symptoms because parvo is highly infectious.” 

You can help Angel-Paws with fundraising here:www.angelpawsinc.com.au

Originally published as Parvo warning for Townsville as outbreak hits, puppy dies