PHOENIX — Several Valley animal clinics tell 12News they are seeing a surge in parvo cases this fall, even though the numbers typically flare up in Spring.
‘It’s not just puppies’
- A Scottsdale veterinary clinic reports its 47 parvo cases in November are five times what is typical. Several dogs have died.
- A Phoenix emergency clinic told 12News they had three dogs in intensive care from parvo on Wednesday afternoon, saying that is “not normal.” “Our doctor can’t speak with you right now because she is with back-to-back parvo patients,” an employee told 12News.
- The Civano Animal Hospital in Tucson reports they are seeing “hundreds of dogs” with parvo, calling the situation an emergency.
- The Peoria Animal Hospital also reports a “serious” increase in parvo patients. “We know it’s bad because we’re seeing not just puppies, but older dogs diagnosed with parvo, which isn’t typical,” said Dr. Thomas Satkus.
- Not everyone is reporting more cases. Two other clinics, including the VetMed Emergency Hospital in north Phoenix, told 12News they were not seeing an uptick in parvo cases.
Storms, complacency and lack of resilience
Parvo has a mortality rate of about 90% if left untreated. Survival rates dramatically improve for dogs that receive treatment. Their chance of recovery largely depends on how quickly the virus is detected and the quality of treatment.
Some veterinarians speculate that Arizona’s record rainfall in November may be a factor in the new cases, spreading parvo in waterways and play areas like dog parks. The virus can remain in feces and dirt for years.
Satkus says another factor for increased cases may be that more owners are simply not getting their dog vaccinated, or their dog may have received a low-quality vaccination. Vaccines must be properly stored under certain conditions to be effective…