Parvo outbreak hits Everett animal shelter

Everett Animal Shelter said this week that canine parvovirus cases have risen across Snohomish County, prompting warnings for owners of puppies and unvaccinated dogs. Shelter officials said seven to eight recent parvo-related incidents involved 24 to 25 dogs and puppies in Everett, Monroe and Stanwood, with another case identified in Tulalip. Six of those dogs were brought to the shelter for treatment, and one dog found dead in a park near the shelter later tested positive for the virus. Glynis Frederiksen, an animal services manager with Everett Animal Shelter, told local broadcasters the shelter is looking at vaccine clinics for residents who cannot afford routine care. ### How broad is the outbreak around Everett? May 22 reporting by KING 5 said the recent cluster stretched beyond Everett into Monroe, Stanwood and Tulalip, with shelter officials describing seven to eight incidents tied to roughly two dozen dogs and puppies. The station reported that the increase was unusual in part because adult dogs, not only puppies, were among the cases. (king5.com) May 20 reporting by KIRO 7 said the shelter had seen a spike in parvo cases across Snohomish County over the previous month. Frederiksen said the number of sick animals arriving and the reports coming in had raised concern that some owners were not getting dogs vaccinated. ### What is the shelter saying about cost and treatment? (king5.com) Frederiksen told KIRO 7 that vaccination is “relatively inexpensive” compared with treatment, which she said can run from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 if a dog is very sick. She said prevention is easier and less costly than treating advanced illness. KING 5 reported that many infected dogs do not survive even with treatment, and that untreated parvovirus can carry a 90% mortality rate. (kiro7.com) The station also said outbreaks require strict isolation and extensive shelter resources once infected dogs begin arriving. ### Why are officials focusing on vaccination now? (kiro7.com) Everett Animal Shelter told KING 5 that routine puppy vaccinations provide strong protection against parvovirus and significantly reduce infection risk. Shelter officials urged owners caring for puppies or unvaccinated dogs to contact a veterinarian about starting the vaccine series, and said boosters are encouraged every one to three years after the initial series. (king5.com) Frederiksen told KIRO 7 that the shelter was seeing cases in low-income facilities where residents could not afford veterinary care, making other animals nearby more vulnerable once one dog became sick. She said the shelter planned to go out and do vaccine clinics for those residents. ### What symptoms are officials telling owners to watch for? (king5.com) KING 5 reported that symptoms listed by the shelter include severe vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy and dehydration. The station said the virus spreads through infected dogs and contaminated surfaces and can persist in the environment for long periods. (kiro7.com) Hoodline, citing local reporting and city information, said owners should isolate dogs that suddenly begin vomiting, show blood in the stool or appear extremely weak, and call a veterinarian promptly. The article said the shelter was monitoring the outbreak as additional community cases were reported. ### Where is Everett telling residents to look next? (king5.com) Everett Animal Shelter told KING 5 that residents should check the shelter’s Facebook page for updates and resources tied to the outbreak. Hoodline also reported that the shelter expected to post clinic information and other updates there as plans are finalized. (hoodline.com) The City of Everett says Everett Animal Services operates the Everett Animal Shelter and handles animal control and pet licensing for the city. The city’s website says the shelter accepts about 5,000 animals each year, a scale that helps explain why an infectious-disease outbreak can quickly strain space, staffing and isolation capacity. May 24 listings on the city’s animal shelter calendar did not show a posted parvo clinic date yet. (king5.com) Until that changes, the shelter’s Facebook page remains the place officials have named for vaccine-clinic details and outbreak updates. (everettwa.gov) (everettwa.gov)