Our hearts went out to Oprah when we heard that her newly adopted puppies had come down with parvovirus and that one had died.  I discuss parvovirus here at the Richmond SPCA the same way I discussed it with the owners of new puppies during my years in private practice. 

No matter where you have gotten your new puppy, you cannot consider her completely protected against the virus until she has completed her immunizations at around sixteen weeks. Even then you can only be sure puppies have a protective immunity if you run a virus titer.  They should receive their first vaccinations by at least 8 weeks of age and even earlier if they are orphans (not receiving mother’s protective immunity through nursing).  They should then be vaccinated every 2-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old.

Parvovirus is easily killed on objects that can be disinfected, but it can live in the environment for months.  It is easily transmitted by the feces of a dog that is shedding virus but who may look perfectly healthy.  Or the virus could have been left at the dog park or the pet store or any place a dog may have gone to the bathroom or walked through with feces on his paws.  That is why it is so important to tell the families of new puppies to not take them on outings until they have been fully vaccinated or have had their titer checked to assure immunity.

Oprah’s puppies were on her show around the first week of March, at which time they were only a little over 10 weeks of age.  I understand that the male puppy was not adopted until after the show where she introduced the female she had adopted earlier.  So far, only the two puppies that she adopted have come down with parvo. Although it is safe to say they likely contracted it after adoption, it also means that none of these puppies had protective immunity.  Once again they cannot get the virus if they are not put at risk of exposure.

I am sure the shelter where the puppies were adopted takes all the same precautions that we do here at the Richmond SPCA.  And unfortunately you can see that survival is not dependant on how much money you have.  Even a puppy with the best veterinary care money can buy may not survive the secondary infections and complications of the virus.

I believe that we are so diligent in our preventative measures here because we usually know no history on the puppies or adolescent or even adult dogs at our center. Therefore, we have to assume they are all at risk.  That is why procedures exist for disinfection, isolation, vaccination, treatment and above all education.  I think the take away message is that puppies are no different than human infants and exposure to all kinds of things should be taken into consideration when they come home.  Parvovirus is just one of the dangers and it is not limited to shelter adoptions by any means. 

Today’s blogger is Dr. Angela Ivey, director of veterinary medicine at the Richmond SPCA.

This is something that could be so easily avoided. Its a real shame that any dogs are affected.

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