Bad new threat to pooches

A DEADLY new strain of the parvo virus is believed to have reached the Territory, according to animal experts.

Ark Animal Hospital veterinarian Jessica Eastley said cases of parvovirus 2.0, or CPV-2c, were confirmed in South Australia and Victoria and it was suspected the strain had spread to Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Dr Eastley said the new strain did not always show up in tests, and vaccinated dogs were presenting with the virus.

“Most of the reports (of the virus) are on dogs that were vaccinated as pups,” she said.

She said vaccinated dogs with the virus had milder symptoms than unvaccinated dogs.

“I’d definitely recommend getting them vaccinated, because at the very least it will offer dogs partial protection,” she said.

Based on her experience, Dr Eastley said vaccination rates in the Territory were lower than the national average.

She said this was because in rural and remote NT towns, there were places where peo-

“I’d definitely recommend getting them vaccinated”

ple could not afford to vaccinate their pets.

“If you’re in a high income area, people do anything for their dogs,” she said.

Veterinarian and TV Host Chris Brown said parvo was one of the most deadly diseases for dogs.

“It’s highly contagious and often deadly thanks to its dangerous combination of severe vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and bloody diarrhoea,” he said.

“And while vaccination has kept it under relative control, a new strain has just been detected. While there is no vaccine available as yet, the severity of the virus is seriously lessened by having the current, conventional parvovirus vaccination.”