Tamworth named a national parvovirus hot spot

The Australian Veterinary Association has named Tamworth among five towns across the country where the incidence of parvovirus is extremely high.

A Tamworth veterinarian is now warning locals of the importance of vaccinations, in the wake of dogs presenting to his practice with the deadly virus almost every day.

“Heat and warm, wet weather and the virus can stay in the ground for months sometimes,” Dr Ryan McGhie, of Tamworth Veterinary Hospital, said.

“It’s an extremely hard virus to get rid of.

“The best way of preventing parvovirus is getting a vaccination.

“Obviously as a puppy, doing it when they get their set of puppy vaccines and during that time, not exposing them to a lot of hot spots like parks where lots of dogs can roam (will help reduce chances of contracting it).

“Continue (vaccinations) all the way through their adult life.”

Parvovirus attacks the digestive system of dogs and if left untreated, can kill up to 90 per cent of dogs that contract it.

“The most common (sign) is a bloody diarrhoea that really smells,” Dr McGhie said.

“Usually they vomit and get dehydrated, which is often what kills them. You get a very unwell, flat, lethargic dog.”

The only form of treatment for a dog that has contracted parvovirus is supportive care.

“We can give them aggressive fluid therapy through intravenous or a broad spectrum, antibiotics,” Dr McGhie said. 

“The longer you leave it, the prognosis is worse.”

Dr McGhie reminded locals vaccines were more effective and cost-efficient than treatment. A parvovirus vaccine costs about $93.50, whereas putting a dog with parvorvirus into a practice for treatment is about $1500.

“For some reason, this season, the contract rate is high,” Dr McGhie said.

Young, unvaccinated puppies are most at risk, with 158 cases currently recorded across the country, according to celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown.