Parvo Warning in MA

This announcement really applies specifically to unvaccinated pups in northern Massachusetts, but one city here (Lowell) has lost 15 dogs in two weeks. The dogs were from one neighborhood which leads me to think "Dog Park" or doggy day care. Of course, I have no idea, but I can't understand why someone would bring out a dog that isn't vaccinated. At least 15 people have done so thus far. I doubt anyone on Mycorgi.com is likely to take out an unvaccinated pup, but this stuff seems to have the veracity of the Ebola virus. Since so many people have new pups on this forum, I thought it would help illustrate how dangerous the disease is if you have an unvaccinated pup and you take it out in the community even once. Fifteen dogs dying in one neighborhood in two weeks is scary to me, and the news reports said that only parvo-unvaccinated dogs were affected and all others have a 100 percent chance of not contracting the disease. I like those odds. Sorry to add another post tonight, but this seemed pertinent with people here getting so many new puppies. Not worth the chance taking them out, even for a brief trip about town. As I said, Corgi Nation is one of the groups least likely to be cautious and conscientious, but I felt the need to send out the PSA just in case!

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Linda on August 20, 2014 at 7:17am

Wow, that is an extremely high rate for just one neighborhood. Always a good idea to make people aware of vaccinations that are necessary and not taking any chances. A lot of first time puppy owners may be unaware of how dangerous it can be so it always bears repeating.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vicky Hay on August 23, 2014 at 12:15am

Wow! FIFTEEN dogs? That is unholy! Were they puppies? Did somebody have a litter or two of pups that hadn't been vaccinated? How could you possibly even think of not vaccinating your pup...unless they were very young and contracted the disease before the entire series of puppy shots could be delivered.

My understanding is that the reason you give several shots at the outset of a dog's life is that the first one or two may not kick in -- it apparently depends on when the pup's immune system develops. So I suppose it's not impossible that someone's litter of pups could have been exposed if, say, another dog in the household had been taken for a walk before the puppies were fully vaccinated. Apparently the disease is extremely contagious and can be tracked into the house on one's shoes...or paws.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Beth on August 23, 2014 at 4:34pm

I was wondering if there was an apartment complex with an outbreak. Even taking pup out to potty would be a risk. Someone on My Corgi lived in an apartment and lost a pup who had first shots and was only out in the courtyard. Very sad.