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In the past two weeks, the highly contagious but preventable parvovirus has led to the deaths of at least a dozen dogs, said Connie Kondravy, co-founder of the local animal-rescue service ORCA.
"Every summer we go through a bout of parvovirus — probably one of the most horrendous deaths for a dog," Kondravy said.
The virus, which causes lethargy, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, is spread through dog stool, said Valerie Jordan, a veterinarian at West Lancaster Animal Hospital.
It quietly spreads in the summer, when more dogs are outside walking with their unsuspecting owners near potentially infected stool, Jordan said.
"Some people think, 'Oh, my dog never meets another dog,' but if it's walking on grass that a dog with parvo has (defecated) on, it's susceptible," Jordan said.
The southeastern section of the city seems to be a hot spot of the virus this season, most likely because of a lack of vaccinations, said William Edkin, a veterinarian at Hempfield Animal Hospital. He has yet to see a case of the virus in Hempfield this summer, he said.
The vaccination DHLP+ Parvo prevents the spread of the virus in most cases, Jordan said.
Three shots must be administered before the dog is 4 months old. A booster is required a year later, followed by subsequent shots every three years. Shots cost about $20 each.
Jordan said dogs might go unvaccinated because of the cost of shots and veterinary visit fees.
But as soon as a dog is infected, costs skyrocket. Cost for treatment of the preventable disease often surpasses $1,200, Kondravy said.
"If you love your animal and you want to protect it, it's cheaper to get your shots when you get your puppy than to wait until the puppy's got the parvo and it's too late," Kondravy said.
Without treatment, a dog can die a drawn-out, painful death marked by constant gastric pain and explosive bodily emissions, or by euthanization through an organization such as ORCA, Kondravy said.
Pit bulls and Rotweilers often contract the virus, Jordan said, but any unvaccinated dog is susceptible.
If you suspect your dog may have parvovirus, contact the ORCA hotline at 397-8922 or schedule a visit with a veterinarian. Keep it out of public until the visit, and clean any area it touches with a bleach, which kills the virus.
Vaccinations are administered at clinics, which do not have additional visit fees, and at local veterinarian's offices.
E-mail: khopkins@lnpnews.com
