Duke’s future was looking up. He had been rescued as a tiny puppy and transported to SHS, where he was just days away from finding a loving home. Then he got sick with parvovirus. Parvovirus is an extremely contagious disease that has a high mortality rate in puppies and unvaccinated dogs. The virus attacks a dog’s gastrointestinal system, causing symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. When untreated, parvovirus has a 91% mortality rate for puppies. 
At SHS, we aren’t foreign to dealing with parvovirus and other diseases. While we test puppies under the age of four months, there’s a window of time where the virus is present in the body but doesn’t show up on the test where parvo can seep in. Luckily, we have access to a new treatment, the Canine Parvo Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA), which when administered within the first 24 hours of treatment can yield life-saving results.
In Duke’s case, we were able to catch parvo early, and within 24 hours, he was feeling better. However, Duke’s access to adoption was limited since he couldn’t access certain adoption spaces as he could still shed the virus. While all his siblings have found loving homes in a few days, it took Duke weeks to get his second chance.
We understand the risks and dangers of parvovirus better than anybody, which is why it’s imperative that new puppy owners take preventative measures to keep their puppies healthy until they are fully vaccinated.
Parvovirus can live on surfaces for up to a year, so it’s incredibly important that puppies who are not fully vaccinated avoid walking in public spaces. That includes parks, walks in the neighborhood, indoor spaces, anywhere that a dog carrying parvo could occupy. When you take your puppy to the farmers market or the pet store, hold them instead of letting them walk. While it may be frustrating to not be able to show off your adorable pup at the dog park for the first few months, it is unbelievably worth it in comparison to the risk and heartbreak of parvovirus.
Vaccinating your dogs is a vital way to stop the spread of parvo. While we are incredibly lucky to have access to the antibody treatment, just six vials costs over $1,500, which we afford thanks to generous donations to our STAR Fund. Vaccinating your dogs is a quick and easy step to do your part to stop the spread of parvo and create a safe community for dogs to enjoy their lives.
Our clinic offers affordable vaccinations for dogs and cats for low-income individuals. You can make an appointment on our website today and take the first step towards ensuring your companion animals live long, healthy lives.
