PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA – Pima Animal Care Center is seeing an increase in Parvovirus cases coming through the clinic, treating 47 cases of Parvo in the past five days.
“An entire litter of puppies passed away despite the best round-the-clock care by the clinic,” said Monica Dangler, Director of Animal Services. “It’s so heartbreaking to watch them get sicker and sicker. They fight so hard but their little bodies just can’t take it.”
Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can be deadly in unvaccinated puppies and even adult dogs. It can contaminate clothes, surfaces, bowls, collars, leashes and more. It can live on surfaces and in soil for several months. Signs of parvo include: lethargy, loss of appetite, pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Most deaths from parvo happen within the first two to three days, so pets should go to the vet at the first sign of illness.
“This illness progresses quickly,” Dr. Jennifer Wilcox, Director of Veterinary Services, said. “Puppies can go seemingly normal to severely ill in a matter of hours.”
There are two ways to prevent your pup from getting parvo:
- Keep your pets up to date on vaccines. Here is a list of low-cost options in Pima County.
- Don’t take puppies or unvaccinated dogs to public places until they are fully vaccinated.
“It is very hard to get rid of parvo once it is in the soil of your back yard,” Wilcox said. “The best way to protect your pets is to keep them vaccinated. A $15 vaccine can literally save their lives.”
Pima Animal Care Center is open Monday to Friday, noon to 7 p.m., and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. To see a list of available pets and services, head to pima.gov/animalcare.