BY PAT FARNELLI
Veterinarian Robert Sullivan spoke last Wednesday night at Montrose High School about two local outbreaks of Parvovirus, a severe virus that is contagious among dogs but not to humans.
The head of Southtown Veterinary Hospital on SR29 in South Montrose, said that the virus, which mutated from the Feline Distemper virus, has a very high frequency of death: “”95 to 97 percent of dogs that contract the virus will die if not treated.”
According to Dr. Sullivan, there were six verified cases of Parvo in Susquehanna Borough, and six confirmed cases in Montrose, seemingly originating near a mobile home park.
A complete course of immunizations is 97 percent effective in preventing the disease, which attacks rapidly dividing cells in the dog’s bone marrow and intestines. Dogs will stop eating, begin vomiting, and passing large amounts of bloody, watery stools that have a terrible odor.
Sullivan also discussed other dog illnesses that can be prevented by vaccines, including Leptospirosis, Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Corona virus, Bordatella, Lyme Disease, Rabies, and Canine Influenza.
He noted that some vaccines, like the one for Lyme Disease, aren’t necessarily ones he recommends.
Others, like Parvo and Leptospirosis, are strongly recommended, while rabies vaccination is required by law.
He gave a thorough explanation of all of these illnesses and explained how the various vaccines work, and their recommended schedule of administration.
He said that pregnant females cannot be vaccinated, as many of the immunizations would result in death to the fetuses.
Sullivan plans further seminars in the future. For more information, contact him at the Southtown Veterinary Hospital at 278-9210.
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