An unusually high wave of the deadly and highly contagious canine parvovirus is doing the rounds in the community.
Normally Wingham and Valley Vets director Allisa Healy says the NSW mid north coast practice would see maybe a couple of cases in "six months to a year".
In the past week, they have seen six cases of the virus.
And what is even more unusual about the outbreak is that many of the dogs being treated are not the usual age group, that is, puppies.
The practice is seeing middle aged and older dogs, some of whom were vaccinated as puppies, but haven't been kept up to date with booster shots. They are also seeing dogs that haven't been vaccinated because the owners don't think they need to be, as they aren't taken out in public.
But here's the thing - your dog doesn't need to go out to catch the virus, you might be bringing it home to them.
You might be bringing the virus home
Parvovirus is a DNA virus, and can live on surfaces for up to seven years in the right conditions.
"Meaning you can get it on something, take it home, your dog licks the virion particles, and subsequently can develop parvo if they're not (fully) vaccinated," Dr Healy said.
"So, I guess if there's enough viral load out there for the owners to be bringing it home on their shoes, presumably, then that's a concern for us."
"Parvovirus is the dog version of ebola," Wingham and Valley Vets director Dr Alissa Healy says.
It's a disgusting, horrible and extremely painful death for dogs.
"They have foul smelling hemorrhagic diarrhoea that is just profuse, we're talking it's like bloody water coming out of them, for sometimes a week or two. It's not a nice death at all. And there's a lot of abdominal pain that comes along with it," Dr Healy says.
It can also cause vomiting.
Is parvovirus treatable?
Parvovirus is treatable, but there is no guarantee a dog will survive. The disease itself cannot be treated, but the symptoms can.
"Essentially, we manage the dehydration and fluid deficits with intensive IV fluid therapy, and also anti nausea drugs," Dr Healy says.
However, it could mean up to two weeks in hospital, and cost thousands of dollars. It's an intensive care situation, with the dog being in quarantine and veterinary staff needing to gown up and wear booties when they enter the room.
Vaccination the cheaper option by far
Therefore it is a much cheaper option to simply make sure dogs have their booster shots.
Wingham and Valley Vets use a triennial vaccine, meaning it is given once every three years, while some vets use an annual vaccine.
"There's a reasonable cost involved with treating parvovirus, so for the cost of a vaccine, which is under $100 for an annual vaccine, it can save a lot of heartache and a lot of a lot of suffering for a (dog)," Dr Healy says.
If your dog is fully up to date with its vaccinations and boosters, there is virtually no chance your dog will contract parvovirus.
Learn more about parvovirus here.
Mlipuko mkubwa wa virusi vya canine parvovirus unaosababisha vifo na vinavyoambukiza sana unaenea katika jamii. "Mkurugenzi wa Wingham na Valley Vets, Allisa Healy, alisema: ""Kwa kawaida, kitengo cha matibabu cha pwani ya kaskazini ya NSW kinaweza kuona kesi kadhaa katika miezi sita hadi mwaka mmoja." Katika wiki iliyopita, wameona visa sita vya virusi hivyo. Jambo la kushangaza zaidi kuhusu ugonjwa huu ni kwamba mbwa wengi wanaotibiwa si wa umri wa kawaida, yaani, watoto wadogo. Mbwa hao ni wazee na wenye umri wa kati, ambao baadhi yao walipewa chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo ya chanjo. Wanasema kwamba mbwa hawajapewa chanjo kwa sababu wamiliki wao hawafikiri wanahitaji kuwa na chanjo, kwa kuwa hawaendeshwi hadharani. Lakini jambo ni hili: Mbwa wako hauhitaji kwenda nje ili kupata virusi, unaweza kuwa unaleta nyumbani kwao. Virusi vya Parvovirus ni virusi vya DNA na vinaweza kuishi kwenye nyuso kwa miaka saba chini ya hali sahihi. "Hii inamaanisha unaweza kuipata kwenye kitu, uichukue nyumbani, mbwa wako atauma chembe za virion, na baadaye anaweza kuendeleza parvo ikiwa hawaja chanjo kabisa, ""alisema Dk Healy." "Kwa hivyo, nadhani ikiwa kuna mzigo wa virusi vya kutosha huko nje kwa wamiliki kuileta nyumbani kwenye viatu vyao, basi hiyo ni wasiwasi kwetu. """ "Parvovirus ni toleo la mbwa la Ebola", Mkurugenzi wa Wingham na Valley Vets Dk Alissa Healy anasema. Ni kifo cha kuchukiza, chenye kutisha na chenye uchungu sana kwa mbwa. "Wana ugonjwa wa kuhara damu wenye harufu mbaya ambao ni mwingi sana, tunazungumza ni kama maji ya damu yanayotoka kwao, wakati mwingine kwa wiki moja au mbili. """ Si kifo kizuri hata kidogo. Na kuna maumivu mengi ya tumbo yanayohusiana na hilo", asema Dakt. Healy. Pia inaweza kusababisha kutapika. Je, virusi vya parvovirus vinaweza kutibiwa? Virusi vya parvovirus vinaweza kutibiwa, lakini hakuna uthibitisho kwamba mbwa ataishi. Ugonjwa huo wenyewe hauwezi kutibiwa, lakini dalili zake zinaweza. "Kimsingi, tunashughulikia upungufu wa maji mwilini na upungufu wa maji kwa kutumia tiba ya maji ya ndani ya mkojo, na pia dawa za kuzuia kichefuchefu", asema Dakt. Healy. Hata hivyo, huenda ikamaanisha kukaa hospitalini kwa muda wa majuma mawili, na gharama ya maelfu ya dola. Katika hali ya matibabu makali, mbwa yuko katika karantini na wafanyakazi wa mifugo wanahitaji kuvaa mavazi na viatu wanapokuwa ndani ya chumba. Kwa hivyo, ni chaguo la bei nafuu zaidi kuhakikisha kwamba mbwa wana risasi zao za kuimarisha. Wingham na Valley Vets hutumia chanjo ya kila miaka mitatu, ikimaanisha hutolewa mara moja kila baada ya miaka mitatu, wakati baadhi ya wamiliki wa mifugo hutumia chanjo ya kila mwaka. "Hii ni kwa sababu matibabu ya virusi vya parvovirus yana gharama kubwa, kwa hivyo kwa gharama ya chanjo, ambayo ni chini ya $ 100 kwa chanjo ya kila mwaka, inaweza kuokoa maumivu mengi ya moyo na mateso mengi kwa mbwa. """ Ikiwa mbwa wako amepokea chanjo kamili, hakuna uwezekano wa kupata virusi vya parvovirus. Jifunze zaidi kuhusu parvovirus hapa.