With many people getting new puppies during the pandemic, national veterinary groups have seen an increase in the contagious canine parvo virus, so conscientious pet care is crucial, says Dr. Erin Trimmier of Columbia’s Ambassador Animal Hospital, a member of the prestigious American Animal Hospital Association, which recently reported on the spread of the virus.
“Luckily, we have not personally seen this increase in parvovirus among our patients,” says Trimmier who is co-owner of Ambassador with her husband, Dr. Joe Trimmier. Being conscientious about your pet’s care is crucial, she emphasizes. “We do feel that vaccinations should be tailored to the individual patient because both under and over vaccination can cause serious medical problems,” she says. “Most veterinary clinics are trying to make patient care as safe as possible during COVID. Anyone who has concerns about taking their pet for veterinary care due to concerns about COVID should discuss their concerns with their veterinarian.”
The AAHA reported on the national spike in parvo in an article by Tony McReynolds in its NEWStat blog, an AAHA weekly e-newsletter on current events that matter to the veterinary community. McReynolds cited a report from BluePearl, which operates 90 specialty and emergency pet hospitals in 21 states, noting an “alarming” 70 percent increase in the number of canine parvovirus cases in their emergency rooms during the pandemic. Canine parvovirus infection—or parvo—is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral illness that affects dogs. Survival rates can approach 90 percent with proper treatment.
During the pandemic, many people turned to animals for companionship, which led to increased demand for adoptions, Dr. James Barr, chief medical officer of BluePearl, observed. Commenting for the AAHA article, Barr said, “Eager to spend quality time with their pups, many people have been wiling away the hours with their new friends.” However, Barr explained, stay-at-home orders prompted a trend in people spending more time outdoors, which could have increased environmental exposure. Other possible causes for the uptick include disruptions in the timing of or prevention of puppies receiving full vaccine series, resulting in incomplete immunity, he said.
The majority of parvo cases are seen in puppies between six weeks and six months of age, which aligns with BluePearl’s numbers: “At this time, our data shows that more than 95 percent of the infections are in dogs under a year old,” according to Barr. “Access to vaccinations plays a critical role in preventing this disease,” Barr observed. “Ensuring pet owners are educated on the importance of vaccinations and having them done in a timely manner is paramount to stopping parvo’s spread.”
AAHA’s NEWStat also consulted with Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Jason W. Stull, who is also chair of AAHA’s Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines Task Force. Stull says limited veterinary preventive care during the pandemic, coupled with an increase in the time people spent with their dogs outdoors in potentially contagious environments like dog parks, could result in an increase in preventable health conditions like parvo.
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