Two Dogs Reunite With Families After Surviving Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral disease that causes severe gastrointestinal illness in puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs. It is transmitted through dog-to-dog contact, contact with contaminated canine feces (stool), and contact with contaminated surfaces.

Canine parvovirus is not zoonotic, which means it can’t be transmitted from dogs to humans. Cases and deaths from parvovirus declined sharply after the development of a vaccine in the late 1970s.

Today, we still see frequent outbreaks of the disease on a much smaller scale with young puppies and unvaccinated dogs at the highest risk.

In the wake of a recent outbreak in the City of Springfield, Dakin is responding by providing free parvo-specific vaccine clinics to Springfield residents as well as providing outpatient treatment to already-infected dogs when possible.

Two of those dogs are Daisy and Smokey. Both came to Dakin suffering from increasingly severe parvo symptoms and spent a week receiving intensive care from our veterinary team. Happily, both Daisy and Smokey responded well to treatment, recovered, and were reunited with their very relieved families.

Parvovirus carries a mortality rate of over 90% when left untreated. Emergency treatment can save lives, just like Daisy and Smokey who are now back at home and comfortable with their families.

Vaccination is your dog’s first line of defense in the prevention of parvovirus. Speak to your veterinarian or find vaccine clinics near you now.

Dakin’s upcoming FREE parvo vaccine clinics are scheduled for October 7 and 14 at 171 Union Street Springfield, MA 01105.

Springfield residents only. Healthy dogs only. Dakin has enough supplies to vaccinate 70 dogs per clinic day. Arrive early and please anticipate wait times of 1-2 hours.

If your dog is showing symptoms of parvovirus, call Dakin at 413-781-4000 to see how we can help.