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juliev's avatar
juliev
Explorer
Sep 04, 2013

Parvo in the SW?

I've heard from a few friends in the rescue groups that say they have a lot of dogs coming down with Parvo in the Albuquerque area. Now I've also heard it from a friend in So. Colorado. Had anyone heard any details? Is there a parvo epidemic doing on down there?

We are planning on heading out next week with 4 dogs. We had planned to go to that area, but if Parvo is going around, we may change our plans and head somewhere else (maybe Idaho, Oregon, Washington instead)

Dr Doug - have you heard anything?

14 Replies

  • That is EXACTLY why they have to stop shipping shelter rescues into other states. :(
    There is report after report of severe parvo outbreaks of 'different strains' that the dogs have not been exposed to after interstate shipping of shelter rescues. One vaccine does not cover 'all' the different strains and when you bring dogs in from across several states is where this raises it's ugly head and many dogs at the 'receiving shelter' end of dieing from it. :(:(
  • I'll start off by saying I'm not a vet, but I worked in vet medicine for 25 years.

    I think Parvo is always lurking - sort of omnipresent so to speak. Some people think it's been eradicated but it's more likely that once a big scare hits the masses make sure their dogs are UTD on vaccinations. Then, ... as time goes on and it appears to be gone , they get lax about vaccinating and then round after round of Parvo surfaces when people least expect it. Sadly, it's the poor dogs that pay the high price.

    Dog circles have these intense battle lines drawn on "to vaccinate or not vaccinate" annually. It's crazy how hot these discussions get! I vaccinate annually, and will do so until my veterinarian tells me otherwise. Since 1970 all of my dogs (Boxers and an occasional mutt-ski) are all kept UTD on shots, and never once have I had a dog fail to live to their expected life span for the breed. I don't buy the fears of toxic vaccines building up and causing all sorts of diseases that shorten the lifespans of dogs.

    Last...no one ever wants to lose a pet to some random anaphylactic reaction to something. Personally, I could survive the heart breaking disaster a little better knowing I lost a pet to a freak vaccination reaction then losing a pet due to owner neglect - especially if it was a disease that could have been prevented had I kept the pet vaccinated. There are a few breeds (like Rottys) that the Parvo vaccine is not highly effective on, and those are the exceptions to the rule. Accidents do happen.

    Our dogs are vaccinated annually, and they travel allll over with us. I would not let a Parvo outbreak keep me from an area (unless I had a puppy that had not completed it's puppy shot series or a veryyy old dog). I have faith that our fur kids are well protected, and that we've done our best to keep them safe.

    I hope Dr. Doug shows up (I assume he's a vet) and gives us his opinion.
    .
  • I haven't heard anything about it in ABQ.... I can ask my SIL if she has if you want, they live just above ABQ.

    I know there have been a lot of puppies coming out of shelters in So Cal and across the country with it over the summer, but then it's puppy/kitten season (sounds so cute but it's a nightmare), so there are a lot of puppies, a lot of stressed puppies, in crowded places. Always a problem.
  • I don't know about the southwest - but not long ago, we had an outbreak here in PA. A friend in SC said they had an outbreak down there, about the same time.

    Puppies and older dogs or those with compromised immune systems would be at the greatest risk.