Parvovirus is a serious, often deadly disease that afflicts puppies and dogs, but it is preventable with a series of shots from a veterinarian.

“We’ve gotten a horrible wave of it,” said Dr. Erika Kellar, a veterinarian at All About Pets veterinary clinic in Safford.

She said many clients have brought in their sick puppies over the last few weeks, and many of those puppies were from the Morenci area. While many of those puppies survived after expensive treatment, about 20 percent of them died or had to be euthanized. Parvovirus, commonly called parvo, is just about everywhere, according to peteducation.com, a Web site about pet health and behavior issues. The virus is known to survive up to five months in inanimate objects, such as clothing, food pans and cage floors.

“Parvo is everywhere. It’s in your yard; it’s in your neighbor’s yard,” Kellar said.

While bleach is an effective way to destroy the virus on surfaces, it is virtually impossible to bleach everything a puppy or dog may touch. This is why vaccines are so important, she added.

“It’s pretty important to get (dogs and puppies) the shots that they need,” Kellar said.

Puppy shots are extremely important. People who get a 6-week-old puppy that is said to have had its shots sometimes mistakenly believe this means all the parvo shots have been given.

Kellar said dog owners sometimes do not understand that parvo vaccines must be given in a series of three to four shots at intervals of three weeks.

Even dogs that are 6 months old should undergo the series if they have not completed the parvo shots.

Dog owners should seek medical treatment for their animals if they display symptoms of parvo infection. The earlier the treatment, the better chance the animal has for survival.

Kellar said the symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. A simple test at the veterinarian’s office will confirm the diagnosis of parvo.

Treatment includes giving the puppy or dog nothing by mouth and making sure the animal has plenty of fluids administered by vein or under the skin. There is no pill or shot to cure the animal of parvo. Like any other virus, the disease has to run its course.

Parvo facts:

Symptoms: lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea.

Susceptible animals: puppies and dogs.

Cure: none.

Death rate: about 20 percent.

Treatment: fluids given under the skin or in a vein.

Prevention: series of three or four shots given at three-week intervals.Parvovirus is a serious, often deadly disease that afflicts puppies and dogs, but it is preventable with a series of shots from a veterinarian.