Parvo alert for dog owners

Published on 09 November 2021

Horsham Rural City Council is urging dog owners to vaccinate their pets against the Canine Parvovirus and be aware of the symptoms follows outbreaks in the municipality.

Horsham’s two veterinarian clinics have treated cases of the virus in unvaccinated dogs over the past fortnight.

Parvovirus is a highly infectious virus that attacks the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular systems of dogs. Younger dogs are most at risk.

The signs of parvovirus can include sudden bloody diarrhoea, lethargy, unwillingness to eat, and repeated vomiting.

The main risk of infection from parvovirus is from a dog ingesting traces of faeces from an infected dog. The virus can survive for months on clothing and a year in the environment so people will often walk the virus around town.

Community Safety Co-ordinator Jason Brady said parvo could be fatal without treatment.

“Council wants to help inform dog owners of the outbreak. If your dog begins to show symptoms, contact your vet,” he said.

“Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk.

Vaccinating your dog doesn’t just help protect them, but helps protect the health of all dogs in our community,” Mr Brady said.

“Council has adopted extra safety measures at the pound to ensure the safety of animals in its care.”

To help limit the spread of the virus local dog owners are encouraged to:

• Have their dogs vaccinated using one of our local veterinary clinics
• Ensure that property fencing stops dogs wandering outside their yards
• Avoid taking dogs to public spaces such as dog parks until such time that their dog is vaccinated
• Avoid socialising their dogs with other dogs until such time that their dog is vaccinated.