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Dogs getting sick with parvo-like illness in northern Michigan, dying within 3 days - identified as canine parvovirus

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  • Dogs getting sick with parvo-like illness in northern Michigan, dying within 3 days - identified as canine parvovirus

    Source: https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...an/7857417001/


    Dogs getting sick with parvo-like illness in northern Michigan, dying within 3 days
    Layla McMurtrie
    Detroit Free Press
    Published 4:05 p.m. ET Aug. 21, 2022

    Similar to canine parvovirus in symptoms, an unidentified illness has been sickening and killing dozens of dogs in Michigan in the past month.

    It first appeared in Ostego County but has been spreading through northern Michigan.

    In an article in the Clare County Cleaver, Clare County Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks said that the virus is suspected to have come from Louisiana and kills infected dogs within three days of having symptoms.

    Hicks said told the Clare County Board of Commissioners that more than 30 dogs have died of the disease just in Clare County as of Thursday. She said it is unknown how the virus spreads.

    “They don’t know anything," she said. "The state is in a panic right now.”

    While the symptoms such as vomiting and bloody diarrhea are like Parvo, tests come back negative, so it could be a new strain or something completely different, she said.

    Most of the dogs who have contracted the illness have been under the age of 2, said a Facebook post by the Ostego County Animal Shelter, and some of the dogs were vaccinated...

  • #2
    MDARD Encourages Owners to Protect their Dogs and Puppies through Vaccinations

    August 19, 2022

    The department is working with partners to learn more about reports of a parvo-like virus in northern Michigan dogs and facilitate additional testing

    LANSING, MI — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is working in partnership with local animal control agencies, the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers, local veterinarians, the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MSU VDL), and U.S. Department of Agriculture to learn more about reports of a canine parvovirus-like illness affecting several dogs in the northern Lower Peninsula. To best keep Michigan’s dogs safe and healthy, MDARD strongly encourages owners to work with their veterinarian to ensure their dog is up to date on routine vaccinations.

    “Investigating the details of unusual or reportable animal disease detections is a key part of MDARD’s mission,” said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. “When we learn about these situations, we take action and respond. Understanding all of the circumstances surrounding a case is vital because this information will help us better protect both animal and human health.”

    Recently, MDARD received a report from a veterinarian in northern Michigan who saw a dog that was vomiting and had diarrhea, which are common symptoms of canine parvovirus. Despite having these symptoms, the animal tested negative for the virus at the veterinary clinic. The department also received concerns from animal control agencies in northern Michigan regarding dogs with the same symptoms, the causes of which had not been determined.

    MDARD is working with local animal control shelters, area veterinarians, the MSU VDL, and other partners to learn more about these reports and facilitate additional testing to try and determine a cause.

    “Our team at the MSU VDL has the expertise to lead this diagnostic investigation, including the detection and identification of potential infectious or toxic causes,” explained MSU VDL director Kim Dodd, DVM, PhD. “Our work starts with looking for known causes of disease, and if none is found, we’ll explore novel explanations such as new virus variants. Our team is working hard to find clear answers, and we will provide an update when we know more.”

    For context, canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus of dogs, commonly seen in Michigan. The virus can affect any dog, but a highly effective vaccine is available to protect dogs against the disease. The disease is NOT contagious to people or other animals and is not a reportable disease to the state veterinarian’s office.

    As more information is learned, MDARD is encouraging animal shelter and kennel staff to follow their strictest intake and vaccination protocols when bringing in new dogs/puppies and continue to follow required isolation protocols and recommended cleaning/disinfection procedures for surfaces and equipment.

    For dog owners, especially those living in or traveling with pets to the northern Lower Peninsula, MDARD strongly recommends keeping up with routine vaccinations by ensuring dogs/puppies are vaccinated against parvovirus, rabies, canine distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. Having dogs/puppies fully vaccinated before interacting with other animals will help to keep them healthy and safe.

    If dogs or puppies are exhibiting signs of illness, it is best to keep them at home and away from other dogs and contact your veterinarian.

    Also, veterinarians are advised to contact MDARD if unusual or reportable conditions in animals are seen.


    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

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    • #3
      bump this

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      • #4
        Mysterious parvovirus-like illness infecting dogs in Michigan, killing as many as 60 dogs

        BY CAITLIN O'KANE, EMILY MAE CZACHOR
        UPDATED ON: AUGUST 23, 2022 / 7:15 PM / CBS NEWS

        ...
        Otsego County has seen more than 30 deaths from the illness, Melissa FitzGerald, director of Otsego County Animal Control and shelter told CBS News. Clare County has had at least 10 deaths, and Ostego County has had about 10, but Fitzgerald said there could be more.
        ...
        Other animal control agencies in northern Michigan reported seeing dogs with the same symptoms, as well as others typically associated with parvovirus, like lethargy and loss of appetite. The causes of the symptoms had not been determined.
        ...
        Samples were submitted to the state university lab and those tested positive for canine parvovirus – but there are more results pending, State Veterinarian Nora Wineland said in a statement.
        ...
        Earlier this month, Ostego County Animal Shelter posted about the mysterious illness infecting dogs in the area, saying several dogs developed parvo-like symptoms, but tested negative. "Most of these dogs have passed within 3 days," the animal shelter wrote in its Facebook post. "These dogs are mostly under the age of 2. Some of the dogs were vaccinated."
        ...
        Last Friday, the animal shelter posted an update, saying the illness does not affect certain breeds more than others, and the illness was detected in dogs from many counties around northern and central Michigan. The shelter said at the time that, while the perplexing disease has killed a number of dogs in the area, it had not seen any dogs die "that are properly vaccinated." In Clare County, Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks said last week that all dogs with symptoms of the illness had died regardless of their vaccine status, according to the Clare County Cleaver.

        The shelter said the illness could be a strain of parvovirus, although the cause is not yet known. It also also mentioned that there are "numerous" canine diseases that present symptoms similar to parvovirus, and veterinarians may therefore treat individual cases differently. Nonetheless, the shelter urged people to get their dogs properly vaccinated against the parvovirus. Otsego County Animal Control and the shelter will host a vaccine clinic for parvovirus this week on Wednesday, August 24 at the Otsego County Fire Department.

        ...

        https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mysteri...ting-michigan/
        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • #5

          Update from the State Veterinarian on Canine Parvovirus Cases in Northern Michigan

          August 24, 2022

          LANSING, MI — To date, the results from the additional testing facilitated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and completed by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MSU VDL) have revealed the illness impacting dogs in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula to be canine parvovirus. The affected dogs did not have a history of complete vaccination.

          “Canine parvovirus is a severe and highly contagious disease in dogs, but MDARD and veterinary professionals have extensive experience with this virus,” said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. “We have a highly effective vaccine available to help protect dogs from the virus. Dogs that are not fully vaccinated against this virus are the most at risk. Dog owners across Michigan must work closely with their veterinarians to ensure their dogs are appropriately vaccinated and given timely boosters to keep their pets safe and healthy. Protecting Michigan’s dogs is a team effort.”

          “This situation is complex because although the dogs displayed clinical signs suggestive of parvovirus, they consistently test negative by point-of-care tests performed in clinics and shelters,” said MSU VDL director Kim Dodd, DVM. “Screening tests for parvo are done to help guide immediate isolation, disinfection, and treatment protocols. While those tests are valuable in the clinical setting, they are not as sensitive as the diagnostic tests we can perform here in the laboratory. We continue to further characterize the virus in hopes of better understanding why those animals were testing negative on screening tests.”

          Veterinarians are encouraged to pursue additional diagnostics at the MSU VDL when screening tests for canine parvovirus are negative but clinical presentation is consistent with parvovirus infection. Please call MSU VDL (517-353-1683) with any questions about sample collection, submission, or diagnostic options and contact MDARD (800-292-3939) if unusual or reportable illnesses are seen.

          The discovery of these cases should not cause dog owners to drastically change how they care for their pets or where they plan to travel. If dogs are fully vaccinated against canine parvovirus, they are protected against severe illness, but it is important to always consult with your veterinarian.

          As canine parvovirus is a common illness in dogs, veterinary clinic staff know how to keep dogs safe when seeing them for vaccinations and other forms of preventative care.

          MDARD is encouraging all dog owners to take a few simple steps to protect their animals:

          • Keep up with routine vaccinations by ensuring dogs/puppies are vaccinated against canine parvovirus, rabies, canine distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis by a veterinarian.
          • Have dogs/puppies fully vaccinated before interacting with other animals to keep them healthy and safe.
          • Keep dogs/puppies at home and away from other dogs if they are exhibiting any signs of illness and contact your veterinarian.
          • Be sure to clean up after your pet when you’re walking them in public.

          Canine parvovirus is NOT contagious to people or other species of domestic animals. The disease is common in Michigan and is not required to be reported to the state veterinarian’s office.










          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
          -Nelson Mandela

          Comment

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