pet connection

A frantic email supposedly originating from the Humane Society of Kent County in Michigan started making the rounds this week. It warned of a “new” strain of parvo against which current vaccines didn’t provide protection.

Sound familiar? It should. This is the same “new” parvo that’s been around for 7 years now, but just last February there was an internet explosion of worry about it, due to a press release about a new lab test that came with some unfortunately inflammatory language and details.

The mass-forwarded email ostensibly came from a veterinarian at HSKC, and it was quite alarming, suggesting that many vaccines didn’t provide coverage against this “new” strain of parvo, and that it was particularly deadly.

That email was, of course, considerably more alarming than the actual press release (PDF) from HSKC, which warned of a nasty parvo outbreak at the shelter and limitations on animal surrenders and shelter hours while they dealt with it.

Vets in the area where HSKC is located got together this week to discuss the outbreak, and they, along with the shelter, issued a new press release (PDF) yesterday:

There has NOT been an obvious increase in the number of canine parvoviral infections in properly immunized dogs this season. However, dogs that are not appropriately vaccinated may run a very high risk of parvoviral infection. This disease is a potentially devastating, life-threatening illness.

There have been no confirmed cases of the new C2 strain of canine parvovirus in Michigan. This strain of the virus has been isolated in Europe and in 12 other US states and has been present for 7+ years.

Currently, it appears that properly immunized dogs are protected from the C2 strain of parvovirus.

It is imperative that dogs be properly immunized in order to have the best chance of protection from all forms of parvovirus. All the vaccines currently being used by area veterinarians are protective against the 2C strain of parvovirus (providing the proper vaccination protocols are followed).

Unvaccinated puppies and unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated adults dogs are at greatest risk for parvovirus and should be seen by their veterinarian as soon as possible.

So there you have it. Just like last time, when I wrote about this same subject.

I realize these types of messages don’t have the wings that the more alarming ones do, but hopefully when someone on your dog email list or at the dog park tells you the sky is falling, you can at least say, no, actually… it’s not. Yes, there are testing issues related to this virus, but it’s no more deadly than the already-deadly-enough parvovirus in dogs, and the main pets at risk are, as always with parvo, young puppies.

My original article on the “new parvo” scare is here. My interview with veterinary clinical virologist Dr. Melissa Kennedy is here. Spread the word!