Darwin vet warns on deadly dog disease

THIS year’s outbreak of the canine parvovirus has started early and could be shaping up to be one of the worst in 15 years.

Dr Stephen Cutter from the Ark animal hospital is warning dog owners about parvo after a surge in the numer of dogs presenting with the deadly disease. Pictured here with Pox.

THE start of the build-up brings with it more than mango madness, it also heralds the beginning of canine parvovirus season.

And this year’s outbreak is shaping up to be a bad one, says Dr Stephen Cutter from the Ark Animal Hospital.

“Last year was the worst outbreak I’ve seen in the 15 years I’ve been in Darwin but this year’s outbreak seems to be starting earlier and hitting just as hard,” he said.

“We’ve already seen over a dozen cases in the last two weeks and we have a full-time vet and vet nurse looking after parvo puppies at the moment.”

Dr Cutter said parvo was an extremely virulent and highly contagious virus that destroyed the gut lining in dogs, causing them to vomit and diarrhoea blood and die rapidly.

“It’s an awful and painful death,” he said.

READ: WORST PARVOVIRUS OUTBREAK IN YEARS

“It mostly affects young dogs and puppies but any dog not vaccinated is at risk.”

Dr Cutter said a vaccination that cost about $100 could prevent parvo.

Meanwhile, the treatment for a dog infected with parvovirus costs between $2000 and $5000.

Untreated, parvo is universally fatal and only about 60 per cent of treated dogs survive.

“Parvo is highly contagious, it’s very resistant to disinfectants and easy to move,” Dr Cutter said.

“It’s very tough and can survive in the environment for over a year so even if your (unvaccinated) dog never goes outside or has contact with other dogs, it is still at risk.”

The symptoms of parvo include lethargy, vomiting (sometimes with blood), fever, and diarrhoea (usually bloody) and sudden death.

Dr Cutter recommended unvaccinated puppies be kept at home and away from unvaccinated dogs.