Is canine parvovirus (CPV) a treatable disease in animal shelters? Definitely!

Survival rates in private practice range from around 65 percent to 90 percent, depending on the age of the affected dog as well as a number of other factors. But what about in animal shelters, where density of population, a constant stream of new dogs and unreliable vaccination status combine with financial and staffing constraints to make treating serious infectious disease seem all but impossible?

CPV is treatable there, too, given the information and the will to do it effectively. There are treatment protocols specifically tailored to animals shelters, along with guidelines for prevention and making treatment decisions.

That's the "how," but what about the "why" for treating canine parvovirus in shelter dogs?

First, a parvo outbreak is a public relations disaster. Few things will harm a shelter's reputation in the community more than an outbreak of disease, especially if it results in the deaths of many dogs.

That impact will be even worse if the outbreak spreads into the community's pet population.

In the past, pivoting the blame to the "irresponsible public" may have shielded the organization from attack, but the effectiveness of that response is decreasing as improved shelter medicine practices such as vaccination on intake, improved intake processing and other infectious disease control strategies become better known to animal advocates and the sheltering industry.

While some do not treat CPV because they don't have it in their budget, the cost of not treating it can be high enough to threaten the continued operation of the shelter. Some organizations that have responded to CPV outbreaks with depopulation have found themselves the target of criticism from their donors, the media or their funding municipality. They've also lost revenue, volunteers, employees and board members.

Second, shelters should treat CPV because they can. Protocols have emerged in the shelter world that approach or match those of private veterinary hospitals in terms of effectiveness and survival rate, and with a much smaller price tag.

For example, the Parvo Puppy ICU at Austin Pets Alive! is saving 88 percent of the puppies they treat, at a cost of around $250 per puppy – a survival rate higher than many private practices, at a fraction of the cost.

Last, shelters should treat canine parvovirus because the animals who enter shelters need and deserve our best and most effective care. Their lives are valuable, and it's our job to save them.

Is treating canine parvovirus in your shelter's future? With the right tools, a growing body of shelter-relevant research, and the shared experiences of your colleagues, we can make that answer a resounding "yes"!

Get more information below:

A shelter-based approach to canine parvovirus treatment

The human psychology of canine parvovirus

An insider's view of canine parvovirus in shelter dogs

Historical timeline of canine parvovirus

New protocol gives parvo puppies a fighting chance when owners can't afford hospitalization