BUTLER COUNTY — A local veterinarian is warning of an increased number of cases of a highly contagious illness among animals.
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Dr. Christopher Mapes, with CareVet of Middletown, said he’s seeing a rise in several types of parvo cases in dogs and cats.
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“It’s spreading so much more than we’ve ever seen it,” Mapes said.
The illness comes on quickly and can be deadly if left untreated.
While Mapes said they typically see two to three parvo cases each year, they’ve treated nearly 20 cases in the last two months.
“We are seeing more cases than we’ve seen in years,” Mapes said. “This is the highest rate that we’ve had in a very long time, and the highest rate that I’ve seen since I graduated about five years ago.”
Mapes said MedVet in Moraine is also reporting a big spike in parvo cases in cats. The problem is so bad, they’re testing every animal that comes into the facility, and they’re urging people to limit exposure to other animals and wash their hands frequently.
The other big thing is staying on top of vaccines.
“Not only making sure that your animal had the vaccines in the past, but make sure that they’re up to date,” he said. “Most of the vaccines that we do for the powerful viruses in both dogs and cats are a three-year vaccine. So as long as they’ve had more than one vaccine in that series.”
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