These are the two most feared words you could say at any dog gathering. This is a very horrendous disease and it has no boundaries. ALL breeds are affected and in more cases than we would like the end result is fatal.
What we are going to discuss is some ways to be preventative and careful. Probably the biggest pet peeve I have is people who bring their dogs around to use my yard as a bathroom. Not only is it very discourteous but it subjects my dog to their dogs diseases. The Parvo Virus can live in the soil for quite an extended time so that every time your dog or someone else's comes into contact with that particular area they are going to be infected. I never walk my dog without having a plastic bag just in case. Also I have a pretty good idea if my dog isn't feeling quite like itself or not. If the dog isn't feeling well why would I put every other dog in the neighborhood at risk. I'm sorry but it's just plain irresponsible of people who do this. I think if they were to ever see what a dog goes through with this disease they'd be quite a bit different. Seeing your dog heave till it can't stand, diarrhea of blood and usually within days they die it's a horrible, horrible thing to have to see. So please, everyone keep in mind just a few courtesy tips.
#1. Always keep your dogs vet visits regular so they can be inoculated for this and other diseases that are out there.
#2. When taking your dog for walks be responsible and take a plastic bag with you and clean up after it.
#3. If you suspect that your dog isn't feeling well take your walk but leave the dog home till it's feeling better. Usually the symptoms are not eating just like they usually do or not drinking normally. Laying around more than usual and not getting excited when the paperboy or the mailman arrive and not wanting to play very much. Your dogs' age has a lot to do with this also. So take that into consideration when deciding if your dog isn't feeling well. Older dogs have a way to tell you if they don't feel well and most of the time it's just by watching and learning your dog.
We'll all pray that your dog/dogs never gets this disease, but if it ever does show up at your home or your kennel then there are things that you need to do. You will first have an in depth discussion with your vet. He/she will tell you that you have to disinfect everything. Dog boxes, bedding, carpets, your yard, the car or truck anything and everywhere that the infected dog was or had been and if you had been in contact with anyone else's dog/dogs you MUST let them know so that hey can take appropriate actions to protect themselves. Un-detected this disease can wipe out an entire kennel of dogs within a very short time.
In closing I just wanted to let people to know that they must always be vigilante when it comes to their companions. This disease just doesn't go away. It's serious and it's deadly.
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