Case of parvovirus confirmed at SB County shelter in Lompoc

Parvovirus, a potentially deadly ailment for dogs, has now been reported at the Santa Barbara County Animal Services' shelter in Lompoc.

The county's Santa Maria shelter had already been hit hard by an outbreak of the virus, which also was being diagnosed at some Santa Maria veterinary offices.

The outbreak was first reported earlier this month in Santa Maria.

There had been one confirmed case of parvo at the Lompoc shelter over the weekend, and one probable parvo case during the last couple weeks, said Stacy Crump, community outreach coordinator for county Animal Services.

The county animal shelter in Santa Barbara has not reported any incidences of parvo, she said.

“It means that it's out there. It's in the community somewhere,” Crump said.

In addition, dogs from Lompoc had been among a surge of animals with parvo recently seen at Central Coast Pet Emergency Clinic in Arroyo Grande, she said.

Most of the dogs with parvo who were taken to the emergency pet clinic were from Santa Maria, Crump said.

The outbreak of parvo was continuing at the Santa Maria shelter Tuesday, but Santa Maria veterinary offices that were affected by the initial outbreak reported that incidences of the virus appeared to be returning to normal numbers.

Crump said Tuesday that 24 dogs at the Santa Maria shelter had been found to have parvovirus during the current outbreak.

On Tuesday, two puppies were found abandoned separately in Santa Maria that were later confirmed to have parvo, she said.

One 3-month-old puppy was found in a box in an alley in the 1000 block of North Broadway, while the other, 3 to 4 months old, was found in the 900 block of East Main Street, Crump said.

The puppies will be euthanized, she said.

Dogs at the county shelters who have parvovirus are euthanized unless they have been adopted, Crump said, as the virus is highly contagious and poses a risk to the other dogs at the shelter.

Aside from the puppies taken to the shelter Tuesday, 20 dogs with parvo at

the Santa Maria shelter were euthanized at the facility, Crump said. Of the two dogs adopted from the Santa Maria shelter who came down with parvo, one was treated and survived and the other received treatment but died, she said.

The owner of the surviving dog, Tracy Dugan of Santa Maria, said that her now 13-week-old mixed breed appeared somewhat lethargic and had vomited on Sept. 16, the day she picked her up from the Santa Maria shelter. Crump attributed the symptoms to stress, Dugan said.

The puppy turned out to have parvo, however, and treatment began. She now seems fully recovered, Dugan said.

“It's a pretty intensive treatment, and it's daily,” Dugan said.

However, she wouldn't change her decision to adopt the dog, which she and her family were instantly charmed by.

“Everything just worked out really good,” Dugan said.

The dog with the confirmed case from the Lompoc shelter was diagnosed after it had been adopted, Crump said, and was receiving treatment for the virus.

The dog with the probable case of parvo at the Lompoc shelter was euthanized, she said.

Dogs who had been exposed to sick dogs at the county shelters were quarantined for a period of time, she said, which proved effective at the Santa Maria shelter.

“We haven't seen the spread throughout our shelter, but we've still been getting cases coming into the shelter,” Crump said.

In addition, the areas where sick dogs were housed are thoroughly cleaned, she said.

Parvovirus, which is particularly prevalent among puppies, attacks the lining of a dog's digestive system, preventing the absorption of nutrients.

The virus is transmitted through feces. It can cause vomiting and bloody diarrhea, dehydration, shock or even death in dogs.

Dr. Martin Vale, veterinarian at All Valley Pet Hospital in Santa Maria, has encouraged dog owners to vaccinate their dogs against parvovirus, but warned that pets that show symptoms of the virus should not be vaccinated.

Instead, dogs who show symptoms of the virus should be taken immediately to a veterinarian.

Crump spoke out against pet owners dumping their puppies, and said that the virus is treatable.

“It just makes it worse. It contaminates the area they drop their dog in,” she said.

Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@santamariatimes.com.

September 26, 2007