worried about parvo..

[EcoVogue]

Hi, I feel like this is an emergency, but if it doesn't qualify will someone please tell me where to repost or move this for me.

I just moved into rental house a week ago. I've had my 12 year old Yorkie Marco here all week. I've taken him around the backyard a little I've let him stay on a leash/run out there for maybe 20 minutes or so a couple times a day.

I just found out from our new neighbor that the old tenants had rotts they didn't take very good care off tied off in the back yard almost all the time. The dogs apparently had a puppy that died from Parvo and the neighbor said he saw the guy tie up the remains and toss them into the woods behind the house. He said that he has tried going to look for the remains but couldn't find them and is concerned the remains may be under the compost heap. I'm not sure how long ago this was... as far as I understand the house has been empty for a few months prior to me moving in... but I'm probably going back to the neighbors tomorrow to get a better idea.

I used to keep my dog current on all his shots and I know as a pup he had all his shots on time every time. But I hit a bad patch this year and money has been very tight, my vet told me that now Marco is so old I could skip his vaccines because he is probably already pretty immune.

I just spent all my money on this move but I may be able to call my parents and barrow some for lab tests and stuff if I tell them what’s going on. Can any of you give me an idea what I need to do? I plan on calling a breeder friend of mine today. I found out late yesterday evening when I arrived home... my roommate told me as he spoke with the neighbor. I can't sleep over it... this little guy is my best friend and I want to make sure I've done everything I can.

Can any of you tell me what to do about the yard? I was intending to have a garden in it but I don't know if its safe. I heard that you can bleach the yard which I hate the idea of as bleach is so bad for the environment, but I'll do it If It will make my pup safer. My roommate said he would go looking for the remains of the puppy and burn them. And that we should burn the compost heap too (although pull all the material away from the woods first.)

I'm also scared it may be in the carpet or something... any advice on that? I think everything that could be was bleached. Will steam cleaning or shampooing the carpets get rid of anything?

Thanks for the advice ahead of time.

[schatzie]

Oh my! This is an area I honestly can not offer any advise in. I do not know much about Parvo or how long the disease can lay dormant on surfaces. (your yard, etc)

I am not familiar either with the length of vaccinations but I will admit, I have to question your vet not feeling your Marco is not in need of any vaccinations just because he is old. Id honestly call a few other vets to confirm this statement from him/her. Please, in no way am I judging your vet and I hope you don't take it this way. It just sent a red flag in my mind that's all.

I hope some more experienced members here can shed some light regarding the Parvo situation for you.

Please keep us updated on what all you find out, I am very curious about this.

Thank you, and another welcome to you to Yorkie Talk.

[schatzie]

I just did a quick Parvo Google search and found this. Hopefully it will help some.

How is Parvo transmitted?
Canine parvovirus is carried by dogs. Adult dogs may be infected carriers without showing any clinical signs. Dogs with the typical diarrhea that parvovirus causes shed the virus as well. It can last a long time in the environment, perhaps as long as 9 months or longer.

Generally, it takes 7-10 days from the time of exposure for dogs and puppies to start showing symptoms and to test positive for parvo.

Parvo is highly contagious to unprotected dogs, and the virus can remain infectious in ground contaminated with fecal material for five months or more if conditions are favorable. Extremely hardy, most disinfectants cannot kill the virus, however chlorine bleach is the most effective and inexpensive agent that works, and is commonly used by veterinarians.

The ease with which infection with Parvo can occur in any unvaccinated dog must be stressed. The virus is extremely hardy in the environment. Withstanding wide temperature fluctuations and most cleaning agents. Parvo can be brought home to your dog on shoes, hands and even car tires. It can live for many months outside the animal. Any areas that are thought to be contaminated with parvo should be thoroughly washed with chlorine bleach diluted 1 ounce per quart of water.

Dogs and puppies can contract parvo even if they never leave their yards. Parvo virus, despite what you might hear, is NOT an airborne virus. It is excreted in the feces of infected dogs, and if someone -- human, dog, bird, etc. -- steps in (or otherwise comes in contact with) the excrement, the possibility for contamination is great. Some people speculate that birds invading a dog's food dish can deposit the parvovirus there. If you think you may have come in contact with parvovirus, a strong solution of bleach and water does kill the virus, so you can wash your shoes and clothes, even your hands with it, to reduce the risk of infecting your dog.

Rest assured that parvovirus is specific to dogs alone and cannot be transmitted to humans or other pets of a different species, such as cats.


How is Parvo treated?
Without intense treatment, the victims of parvo die of dehydration. Treatment generally consists of IV or sub-cutaneous fluids and antibiotics. There is no cure. Veterinarians can only treat the symptoms palliatively, and try to keep the dog alive by preventing dehydration and loss of proteins. As there is no cure for any virus, treatment for parvo is mostly that of supporting the different systems in the body during the course of the disease. This includes giving fluids, regulating electrolyte levels, controlling body temperature and giving blood transfusions when necessary.

Dogs who have survived parvo can get it again. In the case of some puppies, a puppy testing negative for Parvo one day could succumb to the virus within a matter of days. It strikes fast and without mercy. Dr. Cathy Priddle has warned that sulfa drugs have been known to cause dehydration in dogs, suggesting that animals infected with parvovirus should not be given sulfa drugs.

[bettyeanne]

This looks like it may answer your questions. The only thing I could remember was that it lives in the ground and when a dog gets is, it eats away their stomach lining and if not caught in time is deadly. I haven't read all the information yet, but hope this helps answer your questions!
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...arvovirus.html
Good luck!!

[Oops! Schatzie, we must have been posting at the same time .... darn, I'm slow!! ]

[schatzie]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

This looks like it may answer your questions. The only thing I could remember was that it lives in the ground and when a dog gets is, it eats away their stomach lining and if not caught in time is deadly. I haven't read all the information yet, but hope this helps answer your questions!
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...arvovirus.html
Good luck!!

[Oops! Schatzie, we must have been posting at the same time .... darn, I'm slow!! ]

You are NEVER slow Bettyeanne - it only shows that members here at YT always try to help! By the way...Schatzie and Ransom would like to send Toto a hug this wonderful Sunday morning!

[smmrpm]

I would find out exactly how long ago it was that the puppy was there and when it died you could call your landlord but your neighbors will probably know more as they saw these people on a day to day basis. I don't want to alarm you but I do know if someone has had a pup/dog have parvo in a house the vets reccomend as long as a year before getting a new puppy in the house. This could vary depending maybe on how well things were cleaned adn disinfected. Do you know if the house has been cleaned VERY well after they moved out? I would definitely call a vet as soon as you can to ask these questions! Bleach is your best bet for cleaning!! I don't know about the yard though or what exactly to use on the carpet.

I am soo sorry that you are in the position to have to worry about parvo!!! I hope that someone with more specific answers comes on and can ease your mind!! Good luck and let us know!!

[smmrpm]

See as I they found a website and put a link in here for you!! These girls are sooooo fast with the help

[smmrpm]

And as I can see I can't even type correctly or put the right faces up- I meant for them to both be smiley faces!!

[EcoVogue]

The websites are great thanks so much I'm looking through old forum messages and trying to find vet numbers.

As for the vet that said Marco didn't need the shots a few months ago... I think he was a total a-hole anyway. I hope they have better vets around here! I took Marco in for a horrible staff infection, which he gave me antibiotics for, but never mentioned that it was some sort of little bug causing the itching that caused the staff... in the first place so he got it again within a month.

I know my breeder friend is an expert on yorkies... she is in fact the very wonderful person that intro'd Marco into my life... I just wish she would wake up earlier on weekends!

I'm worried about the remains I haven't yet found anywhere that talks about disposal (god I hate putting it that way) of puppies that have died from it. I mean are the remains still hosting the virus? And will fire get rid of it?

My land lord may not be to happy about it but I'm starting to think of setting a controlled fire in the yard or bleaching it down with "outdoor" bleach that is supposed to biodegrade in 24 hours. So much for grass or a garden though!

I know that a vaccine is probably the best option and plan on getting that as soon as I can get in touch with my mom to barrow the money... But is that safe? I mean all the sites say it takes 7-10 days for an infected dog to show symptoms and we've only been her 5-7 days. and can you give an infected dog the vaccine?

Sorry I'm going around in circles... I guess it's the front yard from now on... not sure how much safer that is but maybe less viral load than the back since that is apparently where the puppy was kept.

Thank you all so much for the support and the info.

Good news for now is that so far he is still acting like his self, eating well (although drinking a bit more water than usual), and his stool looks normal.

[schatzie]

Originally Posted by EcoVogue

I'm worried about the remains I haven't yet found anywhere that talks about disposal (god I hate putting it that way) of puppies that have died from it. I mean are the remains still hosting the virus? And will fire get rid of it?

You are asking very good questions and I really wish I had the answer to them. Maybe for now you can keep Marco out of the yard (use puppy pads or ?? for elimination) until you can be positive your area is disease free.

This is scary and I can only imagine how worried you are. Hopefully your breeder friend can shed some light too. (when she wakes up, LOL) Also, is there any number you can find on disease control etc? Maybe animal control or some vets can help with "handeling the infected area".

Id be cautious about a controlled burn right now. There might be a different better solution. I agree with the outside bleach (keep Marco away for awhile though) and think this will help.

Just keep calling around until you get some answers. There has got to be someone who is educated in this field I hope.

Keep us posted. Thanks!

[red98vett]

Oh WOW....THAT is something I NEVER Ever thought of when we moved and I'm SO SORRY you're dealing with this scare.....I would never have thought to ask my landlord when I moved and THIS is so good to know.... but I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did......I really hope everything will be ok for you....you must be so worried.

GOOD LUCK !

[bettyeanne]

Originally Posted by schatzie

You are NEVER slow Bettyeanne - it only shows that members here at YT always try to help! By the way...Schatzie and Ransom would like to send Toto a hug this wonderful Sunday morning!

Thanks!! I had never really thought about this particular problem ... probably because we don't let Miss Prissy Britches on the ground that much. But I was mortified when I read that .... I hope there will be an easy solution for her!

Sunday hugs right back from Toto [who is still sleeping in with Papa!!] Guess she has to get that extra beauty rest since she has a handsome Valentine .... Tigger!!

[EcoVogue]

Okay I found out from the lad lord that the people moved out six months ago. He also thinks that the living dogs were not living on the property for the last few months. He said that when the people moved out he had a crew here to rapair a bunch of damages to the house, that found the puppy remains and carried them to the dump.

I'm still going to take Marco to the vet to check everything and maybe get a vaccine shot. I think I am still going to restrict his access to the back yard, but I'm not feeling such a need to dump bleach all over the place now.

Best of all I've been playing with and snuggling Marco this morning. He eat his breakfest and then stole some of the cat's. So he's not showing any signs of being sick which reassured me a lot.

*yawn* we might take a nap together since I'm a worry wort and worked myself up over this causing me to not sleep much.

I post another update after the vet apointment. thanks again!

[barbg402]

Originally Posted by EcoVogue

Okay I found out from the lad lord that the people moved out six months ago. He also thinks that the living dogs were not living on the property for the last few months. He said that when the people moved out he had a crew here to rapair a bunch of damages to the house, that found the puppy remains and carried them to the dump.

I'm still going to take Marco to the vet to check everything and maybe get a vaccine shot. I think I am still going to restrict his access to the back yard, but I'm not feeling such a need to dump bleach all over the place now.

Best of all I've been playing with and snuggling Marco this morning. He eat his breakfest and then stole some of the cat's. So he's not showing any signs of being sick which reassured me a lot.

*yawn* we might take a nap together since I'm a worry wort and worked myself up over this causing me to not sleep much.

I post another update after the vet apointment. thanks again!

Maybe you can use a bleach solution to clean all rooms without carpet and restrict Marco to those areas for a few months, until you are sure enough time has passed.
If taking him out for walks he needs his parvo vaccination, never know what's on the ground especially where other dogs go.
Good luck and I pray Marco will have no problems from others irresponsibility's.

[mustangbee]

Well that's good news from the Lanlord. I would still keep the shots updated. Let the Vet know about the renters before you. As far as the front yard, Parvo will be every where if it was on the property. Just to be on the safe side, it wouldn't hurt to pour bleach where Marco plays. Good luck to you, and please keep us posted.