It’s Parvo time again!

Don’t let your dog be a victim

Imagine that a previously unknown and highly lethal virus began spreading through the population. The body has no natural immunity to the virus, and those infected with it almost always die. No one knows how it is transmitted, and as with all viruses, there is no cure. Researchers work feverishly to isolate the virus and develop a vaccine as the death toll rises. It sounds like the plot of a suspense novel, but that is exactly what happened in the late 1970’s when canine parvovirus shook the dog world.

Three decades later, Parvo is still a threat to the dog population, especially to puppies. A vaccine was developed and is now routinely given to dogs as part of their annual shots, but the vaccine must be given in a series of shots administered over a period of weeks. If the entire series of shots is not given, the vaccine will not be effective. Vets are better able to treat the disease today, and a dog that does acquire parvo has a good chance of survival if treatment is begun quickly. If a dog survives a parvo attack, it has a permanent immunity.

Well, it’s another beautiful day in Atlanta, with temperatures again in the 60’s where they have been for most of the winter. It has been a welcome break from the last two winters when it actually got cold down here, but with all good things some bad must come. That milder weather did nothing to set back the insect population for the coming year, and we will soon see the effect of that.

Mosquitoes have been around all winter, which is why it is so important to keep up the heartworm preventative year round here in the south. If your dog has been off the preventative for more than a month you may want to get a blood test just to make sure. Many if not most vets will require a test to ensure that the dog is free of the parasites before giving a new prescription.