Dog gastro outbreak spreads to Melbourne’s south east

Dog owners in Melbourne’s southeast are being warned of a growing gastro outbreak, which has left hundreds of pets sick and forced one dog walking business into lockdown.

Helen Fourna with her West Highland Terriers Oscar and Lubo who were struck down with gastroenteritis. Picture: Tony Gough

A gastro outbreak striking hundreds of dogs has spread to Melbourne’s southeast.

One dog walking and training business has gone into lockdown in a bid to stop even more animals getting sick.

It comes after the Herald Sun earlier this month revealed dogs in the Richmond area were falling ill, with owners spending thousands of dollars on vet fees to save beloved pets.

Captain K9 Pet Services owner Rob Gstrein, who put his Dingley Village business into a four day lockdown on Friday, said the gastro bug was “rife” in the Bayside and Kingston municipalities which take in suburbs like Moorabbin, Mordialloc, Brighton and Chelsea.

Mr Gstrein decided to take drastic action and close temporarily after the infection “kicked off” on Thursday with three cases within 24 hours.

Helen Fourna's two dogs were so sick she had to take them to an animal hospital. Picture: Tony Gough

“We have had reports in the local dog parks near DFO Moorabbin — even as far as Mordialloc and Chelsea,’’ he said.

“They’re exhibiting exactly the same symptoms as what we’ve had and what originated in Richmond.

“With a bug like this going around, some dogs have been really, badly hospitalised.

“I know a couple of my clients have been up for thousands of dollars at the emergency vet because their dog has been on a drip. It’s not nice, it’s very expensive and it seems to be rife, and I’m not sure that people are taking it seriously enough.”

Mr Gstrein said up to a dozen dogs he cared for had contracted gastro, with numbers continuing to jump along with the intensity of the illness.

He was taking a Covid-style approach to combat the outbreak by asking clients to isolate pets for at least seven days if they were displaying symptoms.

“I know it sounds a bit funny, but that’s the same rules we’re doing,” Mr Gstrein said.

“We’ll keep you away for a little while so you won’t spread it to anybody else. I did ask for people to avoid communal areas as well.”

Mordialloc dog owner Helen Fourna said she feared losing beloved dog Lubo to the bug, after he and her other West Highland White Terrier Oscar were admitted to an animal hospital.

Both dogs are recovering after being given medication but Oscar now has a gut infection.

“The quickness of how this came on actually took mine and my husband’s breath away,” Ms Fourna said.

“The speed that this knocked the two of them was like wow.”

It was suspected dogs mixing at parks has helped spread the bug.

ADVICE FOR DOG OWNERS

■ If your dog is ill, do not take it to a park.

■ A bland diet, fluids and probiotics will help them recover.

■ Take your dog to the vet if vomiting or diarrhoea doesn’t clear up after a day or two.

■ Don’t hesitate to seek veterinary advice if the dog is very sick or if you’re worried.

[e-mail]