Recent reports of canine parvovirus (CPV) infections in areas around the country remind us of how prevalent and challenging this virus is in dogs. CPV itself is small and nonenveloped, making it one of the more robust viruses affecting animals. While our industry has been fighting CPV for nearly 50 years, the only way to stop its spread is to vaccinate dogs.
Because of its environmental persistence, both indirect and direct contact can efficiently spread the virus.
Melissa A. Kennedy, DVM, and Adesola Odunayo, DVM, review CPV history and discuss the challenges of prevention and viral spread.
Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2017. Link.
Also see: Las Vegas veterinarians see spike in dogs with highly contagious CPV, KSNV 3 News, May 13, 2019. Link.
INSIGHTS: While not zoonotic like rabies, CPV is a devastating infection that requires vaccination for prevention in dogs. Some of us have talked CPV prevention for our entire careers, but a large portion of the dog population remains unvaccinated. So for the 1,000th time, discuss and insist on parvovirus vaccine compliance.