WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1980, PAGE 9 Region canin es safe from Parvovirus By S. GREENAWAy Free Press Staff Although the scatt.ered outbreak of parvovirus has reached "near epidemnie" proportions in the Hamilton/Stoney Creek area, Dr. Clayton MacKay cf the MacKay Animal Cllnic in Whitby said that there have been no reported cases of the disease in the Durham Region. Parvovirus is a- serious disease which attacks the stomach and intestinal track of dogs. Dogs contact the virus by coming in contact with another dog that is con- taminated. "We've seen no cases around here for the past two or three years," said MacKay. The resuits of a recent province wide survey of parvovirus outbreaks by the Ontario Veternary Association bas indllcated that the Hamilton/Stoney Creek area and Ottawa are the two hardest hit areas. "Hamilton and Stoney Creek are the real problems," said MacKay, reporting that there have been over 1,000 cases repor- ted there. "Ottawa has reported in the neighbourhood of 700-80 cases."0 However, of the 1,000 reported cases MacKay estimates that no more than 10 per cent of them have been diagnosed as being parvovirus. MacKay said that the par- vovirus outbreak is very isolated "even in the trouble areas." "Some dlinics have repor- ted no cases whatsoever just a few miles away from clinics who have had cases. " "It just doesn't seem to fit into the normal disease pat- tern."ý Even s0 MacKay said that the nuniber of cases have' been diminishing in the past few days. Once parvovirus enters the animaIs system it at- tacks the intestines, especially the smnall in- testine where nutrients are absorbed into the blood. The bacteria then takes the surface off of the in- testine, hampering it in carrying out that function. If a dog contracts the virus, MacKay said that the could only let the disease run it's course. Once the dog has the virus, the vaccine would lost it's effec- tiveness. When the dog has battles the disease, treatment is continued to prevent any secondary stages of the virus, which MacKay said, is when many dogs could dit. The mortality rate of pavrovirus is about 6 or 7 per cent. "I've only documented 5 cases in my clinic, and 3 have <ied, " said MacKay. The MacKay Animal Clinic has been vaccinating 25-30 animais a day for the last few weeks. "There is no panic situation in the Region," said MacKay. Any dog owner who notices the symptoms 91 pavrovirus in their pet should contact their vet right away. Symptoms in- clude a general listlessness in the dog accompanied by vomit and diarrhoea Iaced with traces of blood. The vaccination available is one normally ad- ministered to cats to treat distemper, a form of par- vovirus. When a pet owner brings their dog to be immunlzed, they must sign a feline distemper paper allowing the vet to adniinister an unliscenced vaccine (one not normally administered to dogs.) * WL... L~ e s e e e e e e e e e e e e verything You'll Need Preserving Supplies VISIT[ 1 vm Wanda &Tony Martin at J THE COMPLETE HARDWARE STORE - DOMINION HARDWARE 319 BROCK ST. S.668-3540 DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC HARWOOD PLACE MALL 6S3m6074' OVER 200 UNITS, MU STSELL UNITS IMMEDIATELY SPECIAL DISCOUNTS SHOWN ON WINDOWS AT-THE TOP 0F THE HILL DUNDAS ST. W. WHIIBY 668-3304 WEST 0F THICKSON m