Dr. Jo Ann Daniels & Associates
17945 State Road 54, Lutz, FL 33558
813-926-1126
www.CentralPascoVetCare.com
Dr. Jo Ann Daniels & Associates
17945 State Road 54, Lutz, FL 33558 813-926-1126
www.CentralPascoVetCare.com
December 18th, 2008
Pasco County, Fl - PRESS RELEASE – December 18, 2008
Pasco County Animal Services has identified an outbreak of canine distemper virus occurring in Pasco County, and is encouraging all dog and ferret owners to contact their veterinarian to make sure their pets are up-to-date with vaccinations. This virus is preventable with proper vaccinations.
Canine distemper virus is easily transmittable from wildlife to pets running at large. The virus looks like a common cold or kennel cough at the beginning of an infection, then spreads the same way a cold does. However, unlike a cold, this virus can quickly progress to pneumonia and death. It is not transmissible to cats or humans, but is transmissible to ferrets. Puppies are at the greatest risk. In consideration of this outbreak, it is more important than ever for pet owners to keep their pets well vaccinated and safely confined where they won’t come in contact with unvaccinated or sick animals.
Pasco County Animal Services vaccinates all dogs against distemper upon entry into their shelter. However, sometimes that is too late as the animals have already been exposed prior to entering the shelter. Being the only “open admissions shelter” in the county, animals that are sick or incubating diseases do sometimes end up in our care.
Animal Services is working closely with the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine to contain this outbreak.
In order to prevent the public from inadvertently adopting a dog that is incubating this disease, we have temporarily suspended our dog adoption program. The adoption program will resume after all animals at the shelter test free of the disease. The staff of Animal Services encourages citizens to once again adopt healthy shelter pets at that time.
Contact person – John W. Malley, Assistant Manager, Pasco County Animal Services.
