‘Worst nightmare’: Parvovirus outbreak hits London community housing, local vets step in to help

A not-for-profit veterinarian is doing a mobile clinic where a parvovirus outbreak has taken hold. CTV London’s Reta Ismail has the details.

A one-year-old dog named Nova is recovering in quarantine after contracting parvovirus, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, at a community housing complex in London.

Nova’s owner, Ashley Rossignol, said the experience was nothing short of traumatic.

“Your worst nightmare just happens in front of you. I thought she was going to die right then and there,” Rossignol said. “We got her to the emergency vet.”

Rossignol, who lives at 349 Wharncliffe Rd. N., said Nova’s treatment has already cost her more than $1,700, a figure that includes medications, intravenous fluids, and protective gear to prevent further spread of the virus.

“It’s not just the meds. It’s gloves, booties, everything in between to make sure we aren’t spreading it any further,” she said.

Local veterinarians are stepping in to help.

Dr. Trina Hancock, owner of Sana Adelaide Animal Hospital, said the virus poses a major risk in densely populated housing areas with many unvaccinated dogs.

“A concentrated community housing situation like that, with a lot of unvaccinated dogs, is ripe for this to spread like wildfire — not just within that area, but across London,” Hancock said. “The virus is incredibly persistent in the environment.”

To combat the outbreak, Hancock is partnering with Progressive Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) and East Village Animal Hospital (EVAH) to launch an on-site mobile clinic next week. The clinic will offer testing and vaccinations for residents’ dogs at a minimal cost.

“If a dog tests negative, they’ll get vaccinated on site,” Hancock said. “If they test positive, we’ll look at further treatment options.”

Residents in the two affected buildings will need to register by June 30 to secure an appointment.

Parvovirus is a serious gastrointestinal illness that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. While preventable, the disease can be fatal in unvaccinated dogs.

“It’s an excellent vaccine,” said Dr. Martha Harding, medical director at EVAH. “But for unvaccinated dogs, regardless of age, parvo can be devastating.”

Harding said they were trying to secure funding to be able to provide the vaccine but it didn’t come through.

“What we’re trying to accomplish now is, have vaccine clinics in all of the London Middlesex community housing buildings,” said Harding. “We had done that in the past. That funding ran out, and we were seeking more. So, we did do an ask last year, but unfortunately, it was not funded.”

While the London Middlesex Housing Corporation is helping coordinate the effort, the cost of the clinic is being covered by the veterinary groups to ensure accessibility.

CTV News reached out to the Ministry of the Solicitor General and a spokesperson said, “Owners or custodians of animals are responsible for the care and well-being of their animals. Animal Welfare Services (AWS) does not have the authority under legislation to provide funding to the municipality, which has jurisdiction in this matter. AWS can, however, provide advice and assistance upon request from local officials. AWS will also continue to respond to calls received through the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9ANIMAL.”