Parvo Outbreak at Second Henderson Animal Shelter

A second animal shelter in Henderson has had to temporarily shut down due to an outbreak of Parvo. The New Hope Animal Rescue Shelter recently took in a puppy that was diagnosed with the virus. The Humane Society of Henderson County is also closed to the public due to a Parvo outbreak there.

According to Purina.com, Parvo or the Parvovirus is transmitted from dog to dog through fecal matter and vomit. Puppies are at the greatest risk for getting Parvo. And although the risk is reduce for older dogs, it still poses a substantial threat.

Some of the symptoms of Parvo are:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite

Important Note: ANY vomiting puppy should be tested for Parvo. Contact your veterinarian with your concerns.

Luckily, Parvo is easily preventable with an inexpensive vaccine that is readily available. Puppy shots are given beginning when your puppy is 6-8 weeks of age. Parvo puppy shots are repeated every 2-3 weeks usually until puppy is 4 months old. Note: Bigger breeds like Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and Pit Bulls are more at risk for Parvo. So they will need to be given shots until they reach 6 months of age.

If a puppy is diagnosed with Parvo, treatments can range anywhere from $800 to $3000 and may not be successful. It's a lot less expensive to just get your puppy a parvo vaccine. For more info on parvo, contact your veterinarian and get your puppy vaccinated.