SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Parvovirus is popping up across the Central Coast. It's a virus that most commonly infects dogs, and the Santa Maria Animal Center has seen a large amount of cases in the past week.
The shelter said ten cases of the virus have been reported this month, where only 9 cases were seen previously all year. The Santa Maria Animal Center received 8 cases in the past week, which caused concern. Animal services says the majority of the cases come from the Santa Maria area north of Main Street and west of Broadway.
"That is an area where we see a lot more stray dogs with unknown background and unknown histories. It's really important if you have a dog, you can avoid those areas altogether or just take the precautions and get them vaccinated and keep them safe", said Stacy Silva, community outreach coordinator for Santa Barbara County Animal Services.
Parvo is a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system and prevents the dog from being able to properly absorb nutrients. Symptoms of the virus include lethargy, loss of appetite, and high fever. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, Santa Barbara County Animal Services urges you to contact your veterinarian right away. Treatment for the virus typically includes a blood transfusion for the dog, along with taking other medication.
No dogs at the Santa Maria Animal Center are infected with the virus.
