Parvovirus Affecting Dogs in Downriver Communities

Canine parvovirus has been sickening and killing dogs in several downriver communities says River Rouge and Ecorse Animal Control Officer Brian Dougherty. Daugherty, who has contacts and associates in neighboring cities, says so far, dogs have been affected in Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, and Wyandotte. He encourages dog owners to be cautious about where they take their dog, and to avoid areas where other dogs frequent such as the dog park or the pet store. Canine parvovirus is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces, environments, and people, including food bowls, leashes, and the hands of people who have touched an infected dog. The virus is hardy, resistant to heat, cold, humidity, and drying, making it able to survive in a variety of environments for very long periods of time.

Daugherty says vaccinating your dog against the canine parvovirus can be a lifesaver yet if your dog does contract the virus, symptoms may be lessened due to having been vaccinated, similar to the way people vaccinated against the Coronavirus showed lesser COVID symptoms once they caught the virus.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that affects dogs but unvaccinated dogs and puppies are most at risk. The virus affects dogs' gastrointestinal tracts causing lethargy, vomiting, bloating, and bloody diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to contact a veterinarian. "Just watch your animals, if they're acting out of the ordinary, don't be afraid to take your dogs in to get them checked out and have them run that parvo test, it's fairly inexpensive to run a parvo test," says Daugherty.

The virus is potentially fatal and is easily transmitted from place to place on the hair or feet of dogs, shoes, or other objects. Even a trace amount of feces from an infected dog can harbor the virus and infect other dogs. Due to the nature of his work, Daugherty says protecting his own pets is priority so he has a few tips to share. "I'm not taking them to the pet store or the dog park," he says. He also keeps a pan with a bleach and water solution, about an inch deep by the door and his shoes go promptly into the pan to disinfect the soles of the shoes to kill any virus that may be lingering there before going indoors.

He adds that your dog could contract the virus if a wild animal or even a neighborhood catthat came in contact with feces contaminated by a dog carrying the virus in another yard or at the park and then walks into your backyard, as the virus may then be present in your lawn. "There's really no sure fire way to stop it and you're obviously not going to see it in your yard but you've got to be mindful and pay attention," he says, adding that attempting to spray your lawn with a bleach solution is unlikely to work.

"It's not anything new, Parvo is an illness that can kill dogs very quickly and it's very serious. In my talks with a local veterinarian, Parvo is really high right now, they are seeing an abundant amount of cases coming in, a lot of which are dogs that are already vaccinated for the virus and they're still getting sick with the virus," said Daugherty. He adds that although some dogs have succumbed to the illness, others have recovered from the virus and recovery depends on getting your dog into the vet's office right away when you suspect Parvo may be the culprit. If you have need to reach out for more information, Officer Daugherty can be reached at 313-671-6979. You should also contact your city's animal control officer or veterinarian.