Threat of severe parvovirus – how can pet owners protect their dogs?

Recent reports in the veterinary press* have highlighted a possible severe strain of parvovirus affecting dogs around Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park. This is a potentially fatal and highly contagious disease that could very easily spread. How can dog owners protect their pet?

All dogs should be fully vaccinated and up to date with boosters, which owners can check with their vet. Dogs that survive parvovirus – which causes severe, often haemorrhagic, diarrhoea and vomiting – can continue to excrete the virus in their stools for weeks afterwards. This can be a source of infection for other dogs walked in public spaces and lead to further outbreaks in the area. The virus can also be brought into homes or gardens on shoes and pram wheels.

British Inventor Kevan Norton says dog owners can provide additional protection by using PooGuard spray on dog faeces. The product kills viruses and bacteria left behind after scooping the poop and one of the viruses it destroys is parvovirus.

Ideally, pet parents who have dogs recovering from parvovirus should avoid public spaces but if this is their only option for toileting their dog then they should avoid contact with other dogs and use PooGuard after picking up their dog’s waste to help keep other dogs safe. Even better, PooGuard contains a bitter repellent which stops dogs wanting to lick the ground where infectious faeces have been removed, which also helps prevent the spread of infection.

One theory is that foxes could be involved in the spread of parvovirus and dog owners can also spray fox poo whether they come across it in public spaces or in their gardens. PooGuard is safe to use on surfaces such as the soles of shoes. For anyone who has a puppy who has not completed their vaccines this is a precaution worth taking before entering the home or garden where the puppy lives.

Kevan says that as well as helping dogs, PooGuard also helps protect people from nasty germs left behind after picking up dog poo, especially on sports pitches and playing fields. There are many more bacteria and viruses that are spread in similar ways to parvovirus and using PooGuard in the recovery period may help to reduce the scale of local outbreaks.

For further information visit www.poo-guard.com. PooGuard is available from selected vet practices and pet shops. Follow PooGuard on Twitter @PooGuardLtd, or on Facebook @PooGuard.

* https://www.vettimes.co.uk/news/vet-raises-fears-of-really-severe-parvovirus-strain/Press contact: Dr Susan McKay BVMS, MRCVS, MBA, Companion Consultancy. Tel +44 1284 388702/ +44 7887 515870 Email: susan@companionconsultancy.com