Two of the puppies seized from a transporter at Belfast Docks before Christmas have died from Parvo.
The Golden Retriever puppies had been in the care of rescue group Almost Home Animal Rescue NI for eight days when they showed signs of the virus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Sadly within 48 hours and despite the best treatment available, both pups who had been named George and Ginny by their care team, had passed away.
Read more: 29 puppies seized from transporter at Belfast Docks
All of the 12 puppies Almost Home took into their care on December 15 and were immediately wormed and vaccinated, but for George and Ginny, the vaccines came too late and sadly they succumbed to the devastation of Parvo.
Alliance Party's Kellie Armstrong praised the work of the rescue charities who helped the puppies and these dogs were "killed by a puppy farm’s lack of care".
Ms Armstrong who sits on the All Party Group on Animal Welfare, said: "These puppies had no chance. Breeders see them as products and do nothing to protect their health. By not vaccinating these pups, the illegal puppy farm risked their lives and the spread of disease to other dogs.
"Poor Ginny and George died of the devastatingly contagious parvovirus. My heart breaks for the staff and volunteers of Almost Home NI who cared for the pups.
"Please help end this illegal and cruel trade in puppies. Only buy a dog when you and your family are ready or have experience of caring for a pet, buy from a known breeder who can provide the pup’s vaccination details or considering bringing a rescue dog into your family. These pups George and Ginny, despite the best efforts of their carers, were killed by a puppy farm’s lack of care."
A spokesperson for Almost Home NI said the deaths of the pups had created devastation amongst the teams working with them.
They said: "It has been the toughest week in rescue. We' been asked to take on some of the pups seized at Belfast Port in December and we welcomed with open arms nine Golden Retrievers puppies and and three little German Shepherd mixes.
“They all coped well but as with most pups from large scale breeders they all had a huge volume of worms. And we received a call to say some of the pups from various sources had also tested positive for Parvo.
“In rescue Parvo is the one word that makes us all feel physically sick, it’s so highly contagious and has such a poor prognosis. So we were on high alert and we of course had our full protocol in place so hygiene was always of the highest standard.
“All of the pups we took in received first vaccines the morning after they arrived but eight days in on Christmas Eve little George became withdrawn, his mood dropped and didn’t want to eat. He was taken straight to the vets and put in a drip. Then sadly his sister Ginny followed the same pattern on Christmas morning.
"Sadly both George and Ginny passed away, we lost them both, two precious lives who had so much life to live."
Parvo virus is a killer for puppies and older dogs attacking cells inside a dog’s intestines. The incubation period is between three up to 14 days and dogs can begin to shed the Parvo virus from their faeces four days before they show even the first clinical sign of illness. Vaccinations to prevent the virus are essential and effective.
Almost Home Animal Rescue NI and Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary took in all 29 puppies, with an estimated street value of around £30,000, including Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds plus a number of cross breeds. Each was health checked, wormed, vaccinated and given names.
And a spokesperson for Almost Home NI said in the short time they shared with the pups, the team was devoted to them.
They said: “George and Ginny might have only been with us nine days but they were loved and wanted so much more for them. As a team we all spent time in tears.
“It was such a heart breaking time for our team as a whole with very little sleep and so much worry, worry for both George and Ginny but for all of our other pups too. That feeling of standing outside the door at 7am scared to go into the puppy unit in case there were more sick with Parvo.
"Thankfully the remaining six Retriever pups have had second vaccinations and remain strong and healthy and we hope in the coming weeks that they’ll find families and so much love.
“But for George and Ginny, there was just nothing more our fantastic vets could do. These pups should never of been subjected to the start they had, large scale breeding, given no vaccines or worming treatments, and so they were full of worms and susceptible to disease. I’m just thankful that they did know comfort, good food, love, care and comfort.
"We were privileged to share the short time with them. We won’t forget you Ginny and George.
"And in their honour, once again we make a plea once more to the public: please, please don’t be part of this problem. Do not buy puppies you suspect have been puppy farmed, do not keep this trade going. And if you have a dog or a a pup make sure they're vaccinated at the right time to help keep them safe."
What is Parvovirus?
Parvovirus is a highly infectious disease and with a high fatal level.
Also known as Parvo and CPV, the virus attacks cells inside a dog’s intestines.
This prevents them from absorbing vital nutrients, leaving the dog very weak and dehydrated.
This means it is harder for young pups and older dogs to cope with the illness.
What are the tell-tale signs of Parvovirus?
- foul-smelling, bloody diarrhoea,
- violent vomiting,
- severe loss of appetite,
- collapse,
- depression,
- fever, and,
- sudden death.
Are some dogs at more risk than others?
Yes. Young puppies, elderly dogs and unvaccinated dogs are at highest risk of contracting parvo.
This includes dogs who have not had their annual booster injections.
Puppies tend to go downhill very quickly because the symptoms make them very weak so their immature immune systems must to work very hard to fight the disease.
Pups between six weeks and six months old are also more susceptible to secondary infections.
They are also at risk of dying from dehydration.
Parvo outbreaks are most commonly seen in areas where there is a large population of unvaccinated dogs.
Is Parvovirus contagious to other dogs?
Yes. Very. Parvo is highly contagious to other dogs.
It spreads particularly easily amongst dogs and puppies that are not up to date with their vaccinations as the protection of the jab reduces over time.
Once a dog has caught Parvovirus, it can take up to a week to show signs of the disease.
How is Parvovirus spread?
Parvovirus spreads through bodily fluids in a dog’s poo and vomit.
The virus is extremely hardy and can survive outside the body for at least six months and possibly much longer.
A dog can even contract parvo by just sniffing another dog’s poo so it is not uncommon for dogs to catch parvo when out for a walk. So even if your home is parvo-free, your dog can catch the illness and bring it onto your property without warning.
A dog can even contract the disease after being in contact with the bedding, food and water bowls, kennel that an infected dog has touched, they can catch the virus.
Parvo can also be spread on shoes, clothing and human hands.
How can I prevent my dog catching this disease?
Dogs and puppies can be vaccinated against Parvovirus from the age of six weeks.
A puppy should have their first vaccine at six to eight weeks old. They will then need a second vaccine two weeks later and then at a year old.
Take your vet's advice about annual boosters which will help prevent this fatal disease.
Vaccination for Parvovirus is one of the three main diseases that dogs are normally vaccinated against. Your dog should be given a vaccination card with the date of the jab and the date the next shot is due. This will be signed by your vet or registered veterinary nurse.
Boosters are important for dogs to keep up to date with, but the time between these varies so check with your vet to see how often your dog should be vaccinated.
Parvo and puppies
Ensure any puppy you are taking home, either from a breeder or a rescue centre, has at least had their first vaccination against parvo.
You can ask for proof in the form of a vaccination card signed by a vet or vet nurse and get confirmation of when the next jab is due.
You can also contact the vet listed as a practitioner to double check the vaccination has actually been carried out.
If I suspect my dog has parvo what action do I take?
Call your vet practice immediately for advice. Make sure to tell them what symptoms your dog or puppy has, and if you have the information, tell them if they have come into contact with a dog with confirmed Parvovirus.
The earlier you seek help, the better your pet’s chances of survival.
Parvo deaths tend to happen within 48 to 72 hours after the symptoms present themselves.
Quarantine your dog away from all other dogs. Tell your vet if you have other dogs in your home to get advice on how to stop it spreading around all your pets.
All cases of severe gastroenteritis should be taken seriously; even if Parvovirus is not the cause, contact your vet if your dog has diarrhoea or any of the other symptoms listed above.
My dog has Parvovirus. What treatment is available?
There are no drugs available that can kill the virus.
Treatment for parvo is designed to support a dog’s immune system and help their body become strong enough to fight the disease.
Dogs and puppies with Parvovirus need to be treated at a vet centre and are likely to need hospitalisation.
They will be put on a drip and given intravenous fluids to stop them from becoming dehydrated. They may also be given drugs to help control vomiting.
If a dog with parvo has caught a secondary infection as a result of a weakened immune system, they may be given antibiotics.
Parvovirus has a number of strains and can also reinvent itself meaning some dogs suffer respiratory or heart failure.
The average hospital stay for a dog recovering from parvo is five to seven days but sadly puppies are often not strong enough to survive the disease and many will die.
Treatment for parvo is costly due to intensive care. Vaccination costs are much cheaper than treatment costs.
Can humans catch Parvovirus from dogs?
No. Humans cannot get Parvovirus from dogs, however they can pass parvo from one dog to another on their clothes, shoes or hands.
How to disinfect your home after a parvo outbreak
Various commercial disinfectants claim to kill Parvovirus in the environment.
However household bleach is effective.
You will need to wash all fabrics and areas the dog has come into contact with. Use a washing machine safe bleach in the warm-wash cycle to kill any parvo that may be present in the fabric.
Include bedding, blankets, towels, pillows, rugs or clothing the dog has touched.
Disinfect all flooring. Use a solution of two parts bleach to one part water to disinfect hard surfaces such as tile, wood, cement, and linoleum.
Use a stiff scrub brush to thoroughly clean the entire floor, including corners.
Pour the bleach solution down drains. Mix another bleach solution and repeat the process to ensure that all traces of the virus are killed.
Wipe down counters, cabinets and doors using a large spray bottle filled with a solution of two parts bleach to one part warm water.
With a sponge, use small circular motions to thoroughly scrub the surfaces with the bleach mixture. Rinse the surfaces with warm water and allow to dry.
Remove all faeces on your property. Place faeces in a plastic bag and seal tightly. Remove and dispose of the bag away from the property. Disinfect all areas where faeces were found with a mix of two parts bleach to one part water. Grass will grow back if it initially dies.
Disinfect carpeting and furniture. Hire a carpet and upholstery professional to thoroughly steam-clean and disinfect carpeting and fabric furniture.
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