12 Days of Emergency Christmas - Ten Parvo Puppies

22 December 2011

Parvo is a nasty virus that is spread from dog to dog via either direct or indirect contact with another dog or its droppings. It is particularly lethal in young puppies, many of which arrive at family homes as new pets at this time of year. Parvo affects dogs that have not been vaccinated or young dogs that do not still have any maternal antibodies.

If a young puppy is a new addition to your family this holiday season, please ensure that you have had it fully examined by a veterinarian on the first day of ownership. Apart from learning appropriate care and feeding regimes, puppies must be watched carefully for signs of illness.

Unvaccinated puppies must be kept separate from other dogs and should not be socialised until fully inoculated.

Due to their small size and immature immune systems, any signs of illness should be addressed immediately, especially vomiting or diarrhoea.

Please contact your vet or SARC immediately if this is the case.

On the tenth day of Christmas in pet emergency, we saw:

Ten parvo puppies
Nine coughing cavvies
Eight diabetics
Seven foreign bodies
Six inoculations
Five HGEs
Four stitch ups
Three lost dogs
Two heat strokes
And a chocolate toxicity

Follow @sarcvet

Back