Three dogs that came to Guelph Humane Society with parvo have died

Dogs Addie and Springer were photographed in these undated images. (Courtesy: Guelph Humane Society)

The Guelph Humane Society has shared a sad update about the fate of three dogs who came into their care while exhibiting symptoms of a potentially deadly virus.

Nine puppies were surrendered to the Guelph Humane Society in October. The dogs were visibly in distress, and four of the dogs were already dead when they arrived. The other five went into immediate intensive care.

A veterinarian confirmed the animals had canine parvovirus, which is frequently abbreviated simply as ‘parvo.’ It is a highly contagious disease that impacts the gastrointestinal tract and immune system of unvaccinated dogs.

Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, and dogs can die from dehydration or shock.

Dogs can recover from the virus if they receive immediate supportive care. The puppies started receiving treatments, and four of the dogs began showing signs of improvement.

In a social media post on Nov. 6, the Humane Society said one of the dogs suddenly fell ill with stomach issues and she experienced a seizure.

“We immediately rushed her for emergency care. She was hospitalized where she received testing to determine what was happening, and we got some unexpected news.”

The organization said the test came back positive for canine distemper. It is a highly contagious virus with a high mortality rate. It can spread through droplets that become airborne during coughing and sneezing, through contaminated food, water and surfaces and through saliva, feces and urine. The disease affects the immune, respiratory and neurological systems of infected animals. Many signs and symptoms are similar to rabies. Although there is no known cure or effective treatment for it, a vaccine is available.

All the puppies were tested and one more dog was hospitalized with minor symptoms.

“Distemper can be a serious and potentially fatal disease in dogs, with puppies being the most vulnerable. It is complex to treat. We are receiving guidance on their care from Dr. Scott Weese, an infectious disease expert at the Ontario Veterinary College,” the post read.

On Friday, the Humane Society said three of the dogs’ neurological symptoms worsened and did not improve over the weeks.

“We are heartbroken to share that we had to say goodbye to the three puppies because their condition became very severe. Their loss has been felt deeply by our entire team, and we know you will share in our sadness,” a post on Facebook read.

The two remaining dogs, Addie and Springer, are currently considered to be in stable condition and are being closely monitored.

“Your generosity allows us to respond to emergencies like this with every resource possible. Please know that, thanks to you, these puppies have been surrounded with comfort, safety, and love every step of the way,” the Humane Society said.

They also stressed the importance of routine vaccinations to protect all pets from these potentially deadly diseases.

“We will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for standing with us, for caring so deeply, and for helping us give vulnerable animals a fighting chance,” the post concluded.