600 Dead Puppies

Oklahoma State University has discovered over inflated reports old observations that a nasty strain of Parvo has recently jumped the Atlantic Ocean and is now being found unremarkably widespread in the United States.

Unlike local strains of Parvo, the Canine Parvo Virus type 2C (CPV-2c) strain can effect adult dogs, even those previously vaccinated against Parvo as the strain is not included in current vaccines. That means that every dog in the United States is a potential victim of this nasty virus that attacks the dog’s heart and digestive tract.

A patent has been filed on the characteristics of the U.S. CPV-2c. The team reports that 500 samples were submitted from locations in south California to south Florida. The published paper has been presented at national level meetings and internationally in Italy and Melbourne, Australia. However, their work is not done.

The OSU team filed a patent on the “characteristics” of this strain. No big deal. There is as of yet no evidence to suggest that this strain is not covered by current vaccines for parvo, there is no evidence to suggest that it can infect adult dogs any differently than current strains can, and there is no evidence to suggest that you should do anything about this press release other than congratulate OSU for snatching a piece of the intellectual property that will most likely hinder other researchers’ efforts to study this strain.

“The team work was most important. Sometimes we received ten dead puppies a day. We are working with several veterinarians and are receiving samples from cases with a history of vaccine failure,” continues Kapil. “Diagnostic laboratories need to be involved to identify CPV-2c. The disease now exists in all countries except Australia because of its geographical isolation.”

Here, we have Dr. Sanjay Kapil evoking dead puppies to sensationalize the terribly high work load of 10 specimens of the disease (see how specimen doesn’t sound nearly as horrible as dead puppy) coming into their lab on some days. Wooo hoo. Big deal. This is code speak for “I want the University to give me more money so I can hire more lab monkeys so I can become more influential on campus and publish more press releases like this one.”

According to Kapil, the disease presentation is different in that normally parvovirus does not affect adult dogs only puppies. However, since publishing their findings, the OADDL has received samples from adult dogs in Minnesota.

This is a particularly sinister paragraph where the the author would have you believe that “normal” parvovirus “does not affect adult dogs, only puppies.” This is a horrible lie and a major distortion of truth. Not only does it strongly imply that this strain of parvovirus is different than normal presentations (it’s not) but that it is special (it’s not) in its ability to infect adult dogs (it has no such power).

Even with the limited information we have from this article, the adult specimens would clearly be ABNORMAL, as we have one adult specimen (or a few “adult dogs” from Minnesota) compared with 10 dead puppies per day and batches as large as 600 at a time.

“Veterinarians are confused because the in office diagnostic tests come up negative,” explains Kapil. “Clinically it looks like parvovirus so they send it to us. The OADDL tests it and it is parvovirus. Now world-wide (except for Australia), this particular variant can attack the heart and intestines.”

Here is the only actual suggestion that anyone need be concerned. The limited in-office diagnostic tests don’t catch this strain. There is simply a problem with the existing in-office testing, nothing more.

Now, if the implied threat of the press release and the apparent over-reaching of the language weren’t disturbing enough, the press release goes on to drop this little stinking pile of viral infested poop in our laps:

He goes on to say that the mortality has been quite heavy. One breeder lost 600 puppies in one night. Without further testing, it is not known if the cause was simply this virus or if other factors were involved.

“We will continue to study CPV-2c. Through collaborations with others we will search for more effective vaccines,” he promises.

Of 80 cases tested by the OADDL, 26 were from Oklahoma puppies/dogs. Of those 26, 15 tested positive for CPV-2c.

WTF?!?! SIX HUNDRED puppies dead in one night? One “breeder”? Where does anyone get off having 600 puppies at the same time?!? Sure, Oklahoma is well known as a puppy mill state, but how in the heck can the writer of this press release let “One Breeder… 600 Puppies” go by without even a thought…. and we’re actually supposed to feel sorry for this person?

I hope, pray, that such a loss puts this creep monster out of (the torture) business and that this press release gets his “business” audited by every possible authority. Not only does the sheer volume upset me (I just raised a litter of 6 … only 6… puppies and it took the full attention of three adults around the clock) but the obvious implication that 600 puppies are living in such conditions as to have easy access to each other’s feces is pretty damn disturbing.

Had those puppies survived long enough to make the trucks, they could have broadcast spread this disease to every state in the lower 48, and then it’s just one more stop to your local dog park.

Thanks Itchmo for the heads up on the press release, and many thanks to Pet Connection for clarifying that the parvo aspect of this story is nothing to sweat over.

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