Disease That Killed Dozens of Dogs in Michigan Finally Identified

Parvovirus has been determined to be the illness that claimed the lives of over 20 dogs who were housed at a single shelter in the state of Michigan. 

Veterinarians immediately recognized that the symptoms of the hitherto unexplained sickness were consistent with those of parvovirus, despite the fact that tests conducted on canines came back negative for the virus. Initially, the Otsego County Animal Shelter reported that it was witnessing the death of its canines due to the sickness. 

The director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Michigan State University, Kim Dodd, stated in a press statement that diagnostic results for parvo are performed in order to assist in guiding protocols for rapid isolation, decontamination, and treatment. Although those diagnostic tests are helpful in a clinical environment, they do not have the same level of sensitivity as the diagnostic tests that we are able to carry out in our laboratory. They are continuing to define the virus in more detail with the aim of greater understanding of why those animals had negative screening test results.

Veterinary Health experts have declared the reason why many young dogs have been dying as Parvovirus. A lot of questions are still unanswered, but here are the things you need to do to keep your pups safe…

Get your pups vaccinated!

(Source: MDARD) pic.twitter.com/jfts9Vs2EQ

— Dr. Nicole Arcy (@DrNicoleArcy) August 25, 2022

Canine parvovirus is a severe condition in dogs that is also extremely infectious, according to the State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, but both MDARD and veterinary experts have a great deal of experience dealing with this virus. In addition, they are making available a vaccination that is extremely efficient and will help protect canines from the virus. The most vulnerable canines are those that have not received a complete vaccination against this virus. 

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the canines that were afflicted with the virus had not received a complete vaccination against it. It is not communicable to people or any other kind of animals that are kept as pets. 

Per the American Veterinary Medical Association, some of the diagnoses of canine parvovirus include poor appetite, constipation, fever, hypothermia, throwing up, and severe diarrhea. There may be other symptoms as well.