THOMASVILLE- Parvo-Canine virus season has arrived in Georgia and Florida. With nearly 500 cases already reported, Thomasville Humane has partnered with Elanco, the producers of a monoclonal antibody, on their mission to save 1 million dogs from this deadly disease.
Before the release of the antibody treatment, parvo was referred to as a death sentence for dogs said Thomasville Humane Executive Director Chandler Giddes.
“If your puppy or dog contracted parvovirus, there was a very low probability of them surviving it, depending on how quickly you were able to find them medication,” Giddes said.
Historically, the treatment has just been fluid, with pet owners crossing their fingers for the best.
“It (the virus) creates a lot of vomiting, diarrhea, and very little appetite,” Giddes said. “Dogs just waste away over the course of 3-4 days and it’s really just a terrible disease.”
Not only is parvo dangerous and deadly, but it’s also easily contractible, making it well-known in the shelter and veterinary world.
Giddes explained most dogs are vaccinated when puppies, as that is what their booster shots are for. However, Thomasville Humane can come in contact with animals that have been turned over to them that were once strays.
Because of this, Thomasville Humane began working with Elanco, purchasing medication to treat the virus. Since the purchase, Thomasville Humane has successfully treated six cases of parvovirus, with all dogs now healthy and adopted.
Giddes is thankful for the wonder drug that has not only saved pets at Thomasville Humane but also his own dog.
“My dog contracted parvo in February of this year and almost died,” he said. “He was hospitalized for three days and we could not get this drug anywhere around here.”
Giddes traveled to Tallahassee to purchase the medication before returning to a local veterinarian’s office, where the dog was treated, surviving and now thriving.
“It’s personal for me, but it’s also very relevant to what we do every day at Thomasville Humane,” he explained.
Giddes shared some startling statistics about parvovirus he has come across since working with Elanco to help save dogs everywhere.
“Fifty percent of dogs are behind on their vaccines or have never been vaccinated at all,” he said. “Almost 40 million dogs are at risk for parvo by not having these vaccines.”
To help Giddes and pet owners track parvovirus, Elanco has created ParvoTrack, which is the first way of its kind to report and track parvovirus. Currently, ParvoTrack shows more than 640 cases of parvovirus have been reported in Florida and 500 plus cases have been reported in Georgia.
Elanco said they believe if their map shows this, they anticipate the real case number to be exponentially higher, as their map is only a small sample of the United States.
“You can see and gauge the risk for your pets on there when you go to a park or public area that pets are at,” Giddes said.
Giddes did say that while parvovirus can strike at any time, spring and early summer are the most common season for these outbreaks. He encourages all dog owners to know the signs and symptoms of parvovirus and stay vigilant of dog feces at other locations, as parvovirus is contacted through the matter, where it can remain dormant for months before re-infecting a dog.
He also recommended reaching out to veterinarians immediately if they believe their dog may have contracted the disease and asking for the Elanco treatment, as it helps dogs get better faster.
For additional information on the virus or how to track it, visit StopParvo.com.