Shelters often euthanize dogs who test positive with parvo, either because they don’t have the resources to provide the necessary medical care or they’re worried about spreading the disease to other dogs in the shelter. However, it is possible to start treating parvo puppies with a high success rate and on a shelter budget. In fact, the Parvo ICU Program at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) treats between 300 and 500 parvo positive dogs yearly with a survival rate of 85-90 percent. Their summer apprenticeship, which is accepting applications through June 29, will teach you everything you need to know so you can do the same at your facility, even on a tight budget.

“One group that was regularly euthanized in the Austin city shelter was dogs with parvo,” explained Nipuni Ratnayaka, former Parvo Program manager. “APA! has solved these problems by developing a volunteer-based parvo problem that’s able to treat parvo at a much lower cost than a traditional vet hospital, with a similar survival rate.”

Their process is as follows:

• When dog at city shelter tests positive for parvo, the shelter calls APA! with a deadline.
• An APA! transport volunteer picks up the dog and brings to Parvo ICU and begins treatment.
• The typical dog stays about a week. APA! veterinarians examine the dogs daily to determine treatments, which are then carried out by a team of highly dedicated volunteers who together fill two shifts a day, 365 days a year.

 The APA! parvo program is the first of its kind in the nation to treat all parvo positive dogs. In addition to treating between 300-500 dogs every year, they rescue 100 percent of parvo cases in the Austin area that otherwise can’t afford private practice care.

“We’ve developed and refined our isolation and medical protocols over the years to maximize our success, and we’re excited to share all of these with you,” said Ratnayaka. “Our survival rates are between 80 and 90 percent, which are as good as what’s achieved in private practice.”

Ratnayaka also shares that they’ve come a long way since they started in 2009, urging other organizations not to be afraid to start out small as well.

“Our program started as a foster program out of our executive director’s bathroom!” she said. “While you’re preparing your facilities, you can start your program in foster homes using outpatient care to start saving lives immediately. We didn’t actually get a facility until December 2010.”

In 2016, they celebrated their three-thousandth parvo patient.

See what resources, supplies and team members you need to get started, and major lessons learned over the years in this short, 10-minute video presentation. And don’t forget to apply for Maddie’s^® Parvo ICU Apprenticeship by June 29 so you can replicate the program and start saving lives in your community!