Important to Pick Up After Your Pets

We walk our dog everyday and we always pick up her mess, while not a pleasant chore, we recognize the importance to the health and safety of other animals. I really get annoyed when I come across dog feces around the city as it can spread disease to other dogs.

Parvovirus infecting Island dogs
AMBER NICHOLSON
The Journal Pioneer
SUMMERSIDE — P.E.I. Veterinary Medical Association is advising Island dog owners that there has been a noticeable increase of dogs infected with the canine parvovirus.Dog owner Dean Kent of Summerside is all too familiar with the virus. His medical service dog named “One” is a parvovirus survivor.“He got the virus last summer and had to take pills for 10 days before he got better,” said Kent, about his obedient black lab.Parvovirus, commonly referred to “parvo”, is spread by dog-to-dog contact and contact with the virus in infected feces. The virus causes lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. PEIVMA advises that even with intensive treatment, severely affected dogs may not survive.“The virus is extremely resistant to disinfectants. It can survive in the environment for a long period of time,” said PEIVMA public relations co-ordinator Carrie Lavers.Unvaccinated dogs and puppies are especially prone to the disease. Puppies should be vaccinated at eight, 12 and 16 weeks and adult dogs’ vaccinations should be kept current.Many Island clinics are seeing more cases of parvovirus than normal but there have been no confirmed cases at Kensington Veterinary Clinic, Summerside Animal Hospital or Gillis Veterinary Clinic in Summerside. Dr. Janice Gillis of Gillis Veterinary Clinic encourages pet owners with dogs having severe diarrhea to bring their dog to the vet immediately.“We haven’t had anything yet that we are worried is parvo,” said Gillis. “We do vaccinate all dogs here against the parvo disease.”P.E.I. Humane Society has not been as fortunate.“We had to humanely euthanize an infected dog here where the virus was just too far along,” said Humane Society development co-ordinator Lisa Hashie.Hashie reminds all Island dog owners to ensure their pets are properly vaccinated and to contact their veterinarian if they have any concerns.