Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that is especially dangerous for puppies. While the incredibly hardy virus thrives year-round, veterinarians see more cases in the spring and summer when people and their dogs are out and about more because of the nice weather.

	V.W.H. Campbell, Post-Gazette Pat Race of Upper St. Clair with the two springer spaniel puppies, Victory and Yoko, that she is fostering. The pups' owner did not want to pay for their treatment for parvovirus. Click photo for larger image.

The good new is that parvo, as it is often called, is generally preventable through inoculation and generally curable with prompt and intensive veterinary care.

The bad news is the cure can cost more than $1,000.

The cost of parvo treatment almost resulted in the deaths of three liver and white-spotted puppies in late January.

When their veterinarian told the owner that treatment would cost thousands of dollars, the owner said he could not afford that and asked that the puppies be euthanized. Volunteers from the Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue organization heard about the case and offered to pay for treatment and find homes for the puppies.

Staff at the veterinary hospital, located in a county near Allegheny County, declined comment about the case.

Parvovirus attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting and severe diarrhea that is often bloody. Parvo victims become extremely dehydrated, which can cause death, especially in puppies and old dogs. Most deaths occur 48 to 72 hours after symptoms appear.

The English springer spaniel puppies fought for their lives, hooked up to intravenous lines that supplied them with fluids and electrolytes. The sickest puppy was at the vet's for 10 days. The other two were treated for four and five days.

All three made complete recoveries.

Yoko and Victory -- so named because she left the vet clinic the day the Steelers won the Super Bowl -- are currently living in a foster home in Upper St. Clair. XuXa is at a foster home in Mount Penn, Berks County.

"They are just typical puppies. They are adorable and they love to play," said Pat Race of Upper St. Clair. "This is the first time I have ever fostered puppies. The first thing I had to do was to make sure the puppies would not put my dog, Spencer, at risk," Ms. Race said.

Canine parvo victims continue to shed the virus for at least two weeks. That means they can spread the virus to other dogs after they have recovered from parvo. Spencer, a three-year-old springer was fully inoculated and not at risk, his vet said.

The virus is spread through the feces of infected dogs.

"Unfortunately parvovirus is extremely hardy in the environment," said Dr. C. B. Chastain, a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine who specializes in small animals. "The virus will live at least five months -- maybe longer" even if the infected feces have been picked up.

Many veterinarians and breeders recommend keeping puppies away from dog parks, training classes and other places where dogs congregate or are walked but "you can spread it with your shoes," bringing the virus into your home, Dr. Chastain said.

Parvovirus is hard to kill.

"It's resistant to disinfectants," Dr. Chastain said. Veterinarians use bleach in a ratio of one part bleach to 30 part water.

"That's another reason the treatment is expensive. Dogs with the virus must be isolated from other dogs" while receiving round-the-clock IV treatment.

Parvovirus is a relative newcomer in the veterinary world.

"We knew about it in the 60's but it wasn't causing any disease," Dr. Chastain said. In the late 1970's it flared, killing dogs and puppies. A vaccine was developed shortly thereafter.

A small percentage of dogs can get parvovirus even if inoculated, according to the Web site of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers "appear to have a high risk of experiencing severe disease," the site says.

Puppies under the age of four months that have not been inoculated are at greatest risk.

Puppies generally get a series of shots to prevent the disease. Many veterinarians finish the series at 12 to 14 weeks. "Generally that's fine, but they can still get the disease at 6 and 7 months," Dr. Chastain said.

Dr. Chastain suggests it might be better for puppies to be inoculated up to at least 22 weeks. Then dogs need a yearly shot. Getting the annual shot just a month or two late could put a dog at risk, he said.

Victory, Yoko and XuXa will be available for adoption after March 11.

"We never have trouble finding homes for puppies," said Monica LaPolt of Laurel, Md., president of Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue.

While the bill has been paid for the puppies that had parvo, the group faces veterinary bills for other dogs with serious health problems, including a dog with heartworms. The group's adoption fees, which range from $100 to $200, do not defray those kind of bills.

"We do the work of angels and the money always comes in" as donations, Ms. LaPolt said.

View the Web site www.maessr.org for further information about the rescue group.