HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) – There is an outbreak of a highly contagious canine virus in east High Point.
Guilford County Animal Control has seen an increase in dogs infected with canine parvovirus, and most of them are from the same area.
They see cases within a one-mile radius between Furlough Avenue and Vine Street.
In the last two weeks, 11 dogs have been brought here with parvo. Normally, they only see a handful of cases throughout the summer.
“It could be a very long summer with parvo,” said Dr. Melinda Whitaker, chief veterinarian for Guilford County Animal Services.
This is a worrying thing to see during the first full week of May.
“This year it really started earlier,” said Jorge Ortega, Guilford County animal services director.
Ortega said they are quarantining nearly a dozen dogs with parvovirus, which causes vomiting and bloody diarrhea and can be deadly for our four-legged friends.
“Our concern, or type of red flag, is that we see it … almost every day when we walk into the facility right now,” Ortega said.
These sick dogs are arriving at Guilford County Animal Control from the same neighborhood, and many of them arrived at the same time. Four arrived at the same time.
“That concerns me a lot, because it tells me there is a gap in this area,” Dr. Whitaker said.
Another concern is how quickly and easily parvo can spread.
“The animal poops with the virus,” Whitaker said. “The virus stays in… the grass, on the sidewalk or on your shoes, and then you can bring it home on your shoes.” »
It doesn’t take much to infect other animals.
“The virus can live for a long time in the environment,” Ortega said. “It only takes one or two dogs to get through this infected area.”
This is why veterinarians emphasize the importance of vaccinating your pet.
Although parvo is very common in puppies, older dogs who are not up to date on their vaccines can also get it.
News Source : myfox8.com
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