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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-14, Page 27Page 4=�Crossr'oads March 14, 1984 All Creatures Great and Small By Dr. D. V. Martin PARVOVUtUS UPDATE Canine Parvovirus has produced a devastating im- pact upon the world's dog population and pet owners since its sudden appearance in 1978. Due to its initial rapid spread, veterinarians were hard pressed to control its effects. The virus, which is highly, contagious between dogs, is transmitted via stool, urine or closely confined air. For- tunately, exposure to the vi- rus does not mean that a dog will come down with the dis- ease. It appears that resis- tance varies greatly and consequently, a variety of signs may be seen by the owner. In its mildest form, parvo - virus may not cause any vi- sible effects; however, more commonly, an owner will no- tice diarrhea, lack of appe- tite and vomiting. In its most severe form the virus will progress rapidly with pro- fuse and bloody diarrhea, persistent vomiting, high fever, dehydration, and often death within 24 hours. The virus has an affinity for growing cells, quickly and attacking the intestinal lin- ing, literally dissolving it. All the microscopic finger-like projections that are charac- teristic of a normal intestine disappear, resulting in very poor digestive ability. This leads to diarrhea and severe bleeding. Young dogs who exhibit these signs may suffer from an even more insidious form of viral attack. Parvpvirus also invades the heart mus- cle with the potential of sud- den death due to heart fail- ure, even in cases where a puppy was fortunate enough to have survived the enteritis (diarrhea) form of the dis- ease --a few -weeks -earlier. -- The myocardial (heart) form may showup without any evidence of the enteritis form. Treatment of parvovirus must be swift and intense to be of any success in prevent- ing'" a large percentage of deaths in young dogs. Older dogs (with appropriate ther- apy) are much more likely to survivelhe disease. Once diagnosed, your vet- ,f erinarian will treat your ani- mal with intravenous fluid replacement, medication to control vomiting and diarr- hea, and antibiotics. The en- tire premises must be cleaned with a dilution of chlorine bleach to help pre- vent the virus from spread- ing. This therapy is geared towards counteracting the 'shock and blood loss, but even with it, many dogs still die. The only long term ,ap- proach must be control and • prevention. In the few years that we have had to deal with parvo -- virus, there havebeen dra- matic breakthroughs in the prevention of the disease through. vaccination.' One 'reason that prevented the disease from causing more devastation was the discov- ery that the vaccine against cat distemper also afforded some short term protection, in dogs, against parvovirus. The use of this vaccine held the disease in abeyance' somewhat, intil better vac- cines ' ac -cines• thuld be manufac- , tured. Today, we have can-. ine parvovirus vaccines that have dramatically, brought the disease under control. A veterinarian who may have seen hundreds of cases a year before, may now only ' see three or four. When canine vaccines were initially introduced there was concern that the vaccine would_ make a puppy more susceptible to distem- per while protecting it against parvovirus. •Breed- ers were particularly con- scious of this worry; how- ever, recent vaccines have been thoroughly tested and have shown no side effects. It would be easy, now 'that parvovirus appears to be un- der control, for us to beco complacent about any future problems. However, the vi- rus is still very much a • present threat. Annual vac- cination (and more often in some situations) is still abso- lutely necesEttry to prevent your dog from succumbing to its devastating effects. If we allow this hardy virus any opportunity to rear its head — it will waste no time. Pt i. ...'i:'iI•i •Nil'd6•'E..:dmiitimM •'msr[!s°iluY'f I.�:�r •• : • }:j�i4��•J'' '!—_'!7 iiiiii '�"�'� :�'�`ii+:ii:'tj: •t�:i?ir: IN EFFECT FROM WED. MAR. 14 UNTIL CLOSING SATURDAY MAR. 17/84 SCHNEIDERS FRESH PORK HOCKS f.30 S9e FRESH SLICED OR BY THE PIECE PORK LIVER. !e SCHNEIDERS-HALVES OLDE FASHIONED SMOKED HAM 9.80 3.99 /kg IG. Ib. VACUUM RING SCHNEIDERS BOLOGNA 11-.49 t OR BEEF WIENERS 450 g PKG. OUR jlEG. 2.78 3 VARIETIES SCHNEIDERS MINI SIZZLERS 500 g PKG. �I 49 4#1° SLICED - 5 VARIETIES SCHNEIDERS SIDE BACON 10 VARIETIES SCHNEIDERS MINI DELI 25 PK0G. g 1.99 REGULAR OR CHEESE SCHNEIDERS SMO1UES SCHNEIDERS LIFE STYLE SLICED - 5 VARIETIES TURKEY MEAT 125 g PKG. f.39 SCHNEIDERS SLICED SQUARE COOKED P 15" PKG.. SCHNEIDERS PURE PORK SCHNEIDERS PEPPERONI 3009 PKG 2.99 COUNTRY GOLD - 5' VARIETIES 175 g 89° SLICED COOKED MEATS PKC . FRESH WHOLE CUT. UP CHICKEN 60 118 /kg Ib. SCHNEIDERS • OLDE FASHIONED. HAM SCHNEIDERS THURINGER SAUSAGE SCHNEIDERS BOLOGNA REG. OR ALL BEEF 9.24/kg 4.19 8.36 /kg 3.79 1b. 4.39/kg L99 lb.. 600 g PKG. 375 g PKG. NO NAME FROZEN - 3 VARIETIES HEAT & SERVE PATTIES .. 500 g PKG. SCHNEIDERS SEIM MOSS MARGARINE OUR REG. 3.29 OUR REG. 3A9 SCHNEIDERS TORTIERE OUR,REG. 1.19 SAVE! 50` SCHNEIDERS BUCKET OF CHICKEN 4.39 Reg. or Honey SCHNEIDERS SINGLE THIN SCHNEIDERS JUST HEAT AND EAT CHEESE SLICES OLD BAVARIA PINEAPPLE OR CHERRY DANISH 435 g 1.99 READY TO FILL GRANDMA MARTINS TART SHELLS 9 1.29 255 g' r. READY TO FILL GRANDMA MARTINS MINI -TART SHELLS SCHNEIDERS 'CHEESE SWISS STICK 2.39 6 VARIETIES 250 g PKG. OUR REG. 1.69 r' WESTONS PLAIN ENGLISH MUFFINS 99#