Preventable dog disease claiming too many lives, says PDSA: Vets from the UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA, are warning that the deadly dog infection parvovirus is present and dangerous in Britain – with an estimated 300 new cases of the disease seen at its PetAid hospitals in just one month.
What is Canine Parvovirus?
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly infectious disease that can lead to death. It mainly affects younger dogs and in advanced stages, can kill nine out of ten animals.
Some dogs can survive the infection with intensive veterinary and nursing care. But with over 25 per cent of cases proving fatal, PDSA is urging all dog owners to vaccinate their pets to prevent them from contracting the disease and risking death.
PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon Sean Wensley said: “Parvovirus makes dogs extremely ill which is distressing for both them and their owners. PDSA staff at some PetAid hospitals have seen a large influx of very sick pets over the past few weeks.
Treatment: Parvovirus in Dogs
“The virus normally affects a dog’s intestines, causing signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The faeces will also often contain mucus or blood. Dogs with parvovirus can also become subdued and lethargic very quickly, and go off their food. If a dog develops any of these signs, they should receive immediate veterinary attention.”
Prognosis: Canine Parvovirus
Some dogs will recover but others can die within hours of showing signs.
Checks carried out at around half of PDSA’s 47 PetAid hospitals in recent weeks revealed that at least 160 new canine parvovirus cases had been seen in a single month, so the actual number seen by the charity could be double this.
Parvovirus Info
Information* gathered by the charity also show stark regional variations in the prevalence of parvovirus. Samples were taken from over 350 dogs suspected of having the disease: In northern England, 78 per cent of dogs sampled tested positive, compared to Scotland where it was just 13 per cent. In Wales 70 percent of suspect cases proved positive, along with 65 per cent in the Midlands.
The information gathered also confirmed that unvaccinated dogs were more likely to test positive for the virus.
Sean Wensley added: “Ensure your puppy receives their vaccinations to provide good protection against this disease. Follow your vet’s advice on booster injections, which are usually once a year, because an animal’s immunity to the infection decreases over time.”
Parvovirus Symptoms
Parvovirus attacks the heart muscle and intestinal tract. Symptoms include vomiting, a foul-smelling diarrhoea that may contain blood, lethargy and loss of appetite, but may not be apparent in older animals.
Parvovirus Outbreaks
There has also been an increase in the number of suspected cases at PDSA’s PetAid hospitals in Gillingham, Leeds, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Manchester and Bow.
The PDSA: “The effects of canine parvovirus are very distressing to witness and it is often fatal. It is particularly serious in puppies as they also risk heart disease from this virus. If your dog starts to vomit or develops diarrhoea then it is crucial to contact your local veterinary practice as soon as possible.
“Parvovirus is preventable through vaccination, so protecting dogs particularly puppies from disease and suffering should be a priority. I strongly advise owners to ask their vet about vaccinating against this disease and about booster vaccinations throughout a dog’s lifetime.”
PDSA is warning pet owners in the affected areas and nationwide to be aware that parvovirus continues to pose a threat to dogs.
“PDSA is drawing attention to these outbreaks because dog owners should be aware parvovirus is possibly present in these areas. At our PetAid hospitals nationwide we have seen an increase in the number of pets we are treating and therefore the number of suspected cases is higher as a result. This disease can cause terrible and unnecessary suffering if dogs are not protected from the disease. “
For more information on pet health and to download PDSA’s leaflet on vaccinations please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-health-advice
Local Parvovirus Updates
USA – Parvovirus news
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Can we see all of the actual figures, or the fully referenced scientific paper itself?
I find it odd when I see:
“In northern England, 78 per cent of dogs sampled tested positive…”
but then a figureless:
“The information gathered also confirmed that unvaccinated dogs were more likely to test positive for the virus….”
What percentage of unvaccinated dogs tested positive? What percentage of vaccinated dogs tested positive and what is the explanation for this? Are the vaccines poorly manufactured and ineffective if so where are the refunds?
What percentage of vaccinated dogs developed other diseases?
Who is funding the studies directly or indirectly?
Which “vets” from the PDSA can you name them and confirm whether any of them hold directorships, hold shares or share any other financial interests with the companies that manufacture vaccines?
Parvo is a terrible disease. If it can be avoided by vaccination great. But biased stories and a lack of scientific openness will only add to people’s skepticism of an industry that makes millions and has little to no accountability or means of quality control.
The information people are getting is not unemotional and fact based but that is what is needed to make a rational decision on whether to purchase a product on the basis that it will be for the long term good.
If you could provide hard facts and figures and let people draw their own conclusions without weighted inference it would be much better in the long run.
The best situation is one where people are using effective modern medicine for the benefit of their animals. It is absolutely sensible to be skeptical about anything when someone is making money out of it, when they are making ludicrous sums of money with little chance of any backlash a good dose of additional skepticism is required.
That skepticism needs to be countered by open and factual explanation and open access to the sources, locations and interests of those carrying out the studies.
We can no longer accept assertions that “A group of experts say…” and accept it as fact. History has proven that those who make bland assertions either have a vested interest or have not done enough balanced research to warrant any true scientific conclusion.
“Since its inception, PDSA has received corporate grants from pharmaceutical companies ….”
Taken from the PDSA themselves.
Corporations have one legal mandate – to make a profit. They do not “give” unless they expect to reap a return in one form or another – it would in fact be technically illegal for them to do so as unlike unincorporated bodies, they are legally bound to make the maximum return for their shareholders.