New adopted puppies infected with parvovirus

Rick Charmoli | Cadillac News This is the door to the kennel at the Wexford County Animal Shelter. On Friday it was being cleaned as the shelter experienced a parvovirus outbreak.

CADILLAC — Patricia Fogarty is a little upset about a new puppy she got her son.

When she went to the Pet Adoption Weekend last week she did so to hold up her end of a bargain she made with her son. He had to maintain good grades and in return she would get him a puppy.

After only a couple of days with the beagle mix pup, Fogarty and her son had to return to the shelter with the dog this time to have it euthanized. It had been diagnosed with canine parvovirus.

“If they are going to have the fairs, dogs need to be vaccinated. I respect what they (the animal shelter and its workers) do there but before they leave the shelter you should know whether they are sick or not,” she said. “I’m hurt because of the look on my son’s face when we took the puppy in.”

Fogarty was not the only person who had bought a puppy infected with parvovirus, according to shelter manager Michelle Rogers.

Rogers said the shelter knows of seven puppies that were adopted and had the virus. She also said since the shelter takes in strays it is hard to know how the outbreak started.

“Parvo has a 10 to 14 day incubation period so it is unknown where they contracted it,” she said. “It is fatal a lot of the time unless they seek treatment from a vet’s office.”

As a result of the outbreak, Rogers said the shelter is not adopting any animals and is doing an extensive cleaning of the shelter. The only way to kill the virus is to clean with bleach. The hope is to be back to somewhat normal operation by Monday, she said.

Anyone who bought a puppy during the adoption weekend drive may file for a pet refund review to get back the $25 only if they have paperwork from a veterinarian office stating the dog tested positive for parvovirus.

For more information, call the shelter at 775-9530.

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Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus is one of the most common and severe gastrointestinal diseases of dogs and most commonly attack puppies younger than one year of age.

If you see any of the following symptoms in you puppy or dog, contact your veterinarian immediately: