I just took my girls in for their shots....I always take them in a carrier to the vets office. Buster doesn't even step on the floor at the Dr's. Where in SoCal is the Parvo rampant?

Since there has been several to ask about the area we are near
I am going to copy and paste the article from the newspaper from December 4th. I notice that you lilbuster and also SONYSW live in southern Calif. too. From what I have been told this seems to be really about in other areas also, not just here. Never heard it being like this before in our area. I have a number one rule at our home, sign on the door, " Please take shoes off, THANKS," never have had anyone feel unwelcome because of it, maybe a little inconvenient to some people but what the heck when it comes to the house work, the maid is the boss :) have had this rule even when our all three of our kids were little, with knowing we aren't tracking in something on our shoes. Please note what I pasted bold type from within the article.


$20 shot could save your dog's life from Parvo
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Monday, December 4, 2006.
By ALISHA SEMCHUCK
Valley Press Staff Writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beware for the family dog: Parvo is on the rise.
Parvo virus is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that canines can contract, according to Ginny Hernandez, supervisor at the Palm Plaza Pet Hospital . Both Parvo and kennel cough - an upper respiratory virus - are running rampant in the Antelope Valley right now, she said. In fact, she described the situation as "almost at an epidemic level."
"Lancaster (Animal) Shelter had to shut down because of an outbreak of kennel cough not too long ago," Hernandez said. "We've treated kennel cough at least eight times this week," she added .
"We're seeing multiple cases (of Parvo) every week, cases every day," Hernandez said. Dogs are dying every day." She describe Parvo as "a parasite that attacks the intestines, a very mean virus."
Palm Plaza Pet Hospital is not alone in the number of infected dogs coming through the door.
"We have noticed an increase in Parvo cases," said Patrick Parker, a veterinary assistant at Lancaster Pet Clinic . He didn't have any approximate numbers.
"We have not noticed much canine influenza, but cases occur this time of year," he added.
At the Animal Emergency Clinic , at least one case of Parvo has come in each day, veterinary technician Lindsay Fonvergne said. "That's quite a bit. Normally during the summer it's higher. In winter, it usually slows down."
Fonvergne said she had "no idea why" Parvo cases increased.
All three animal care workers speculated people aren't bringing in their pets for the necessary shots.
"A lot of people just don't vaccinate their pets," Fonvergne said.
Hernandez agreed.
"A simple $20 vaccination can prevent Parvo," Hernandez said. "But, there's no shot to cure (the disease) once the pet contracts it."
The thing about Parvo, Hernandez explained, is dogs needn't come in direct contact with an infected animal. Once an infected dog goes potty outdoors, the ground in that spot remains contaminated for seven to 10 years. So a healthy pet walking around or sniffing in that area can take ill. Most susceptible are puppies or young dogs and the elderly, Fonvergne said. Dogs in the middle-age range rarely contract the disease, usually because they've had their shots. And, if they become ill, they have a better survival rate, better chance of recovering, she noted. Older dogs, age 12 years and up, begin having other geriatric problems that weaken their immune systems.
And, at Christmas, people receive puppies as gifts because they're so adorable. However, Hernandez pointed out, sometimes those folks don't think about vaccinating the puppies. She said the Parvo vaccination is a series of four shots, three weeks apart, that should begin when the puppy is 8 weeks old.
Dogs suffering from Parvo don't want to drink any water, or eat any food. They vomit, have bloody diarrhea, are lethargic and dehydrated, Fonvergne said. To tell if a pet is dehydrated, pull the skin up slightly. If it stays in place, rather than bouncing back, that indicates dehydration, she explained.
Though the survival rate is good for dogs in the mid-age range if the prescribed treatment is followed precisely, Fonvergne said, some "people opt to euthanize (the pet) because treatment is expensive."
Hydrating the pet with plenty of water, generally intravenously, is essential.
Cat owners needn't worry about Parvo. That virus doesn't attack felines, Fonvergne said. However, they can contract a virus called panleukopenia, which basically has the same symptoms as Parvo.
"Unfortunately, panleuk (is) not as treatable as Parvo," Fonvergne said. "The death rate is higher. Most of the time (cats) won't recover."

Thanks for the heads up...I live right in Southern California. I lost a puppy due to Parvo before so now I get really paranoid to let Stanley anywhere near other dogs that I don't know.

That's sacry.We stoped and let Rocco and Rosie go potty in Lancaster a few weeks ago. For those that don't want to take their dogs to the vet because of the mandatory spay neuter law,go and buy he shots and give them yourself.

Also in So Cal...:p

Can you please alsp send me a copy of the article...:p

I try to not even take my dogs out because there are so many dogs by where I live...