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Parvovirus

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Parvovirus

  • Nearly 2,000 pet and stray dogs in Amravati city were affected by canine parvovirus virus last month with veterinarians cautioning pet owners against a severe outbreak.
  • It has affected over 2,000 dogs in Maharashtra’s Amaravati city
  • While there is no official data available on the number of deaths, as per the animal rescue organisation’s data, 17 stray dogs died during treatment last month.

About the virus:

  • It was discovered in 1967
  • It is a serious threat for canines all over the world because it is hard to kill and is shed in large quantities by dogs.
  • It is a highly contagious viral disease that can also be life-threatening in puppies and dogs.
  • It commonly causes severe illness in young and unvaccinated dogs
  • It affects the intestinal tract of canines with puppies being more susceptible.
  • Its symptoms are bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, drastic weight loss, dehydration and lethargy
  • It has reported a 90 per cent mortality rate.
  • It is a resistant virus which easily survives in the environment and anything can be contaminated with it including leaves and grass.
  • It spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object, including the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs.
  • The dogs can get exposed to the virus every time it sniffs, licks, or consume infected faeces.
  • Indirect transmission occurs when a person who has recently been exposed to an infected dog touches the puppy, or when a puppy encounters a contaminated object, like food or water bowl, collars and leashes.

About the cure:

  • It has no cure and inoculating a puppy or a dog gives them a fighting chance against the infection.
  • The first dose is given at 45 days old and the second 21 days after the first dose.
  • To properly protect canines, it is necessary to administer the vaccine to them while they are puppies and then continue to do the same every year.

Safeguard from infection:

  • Dogs can be safeguarded from it by not taking them out if they are not fully vaccinated and must be avoided from touching the ground.

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