Disease alert on dead fox

May 9 2007 By Adam Smith, Birmingham Mail

THE discovery of a dead fox believed to be infected with a killer disease in Sutton Coldfield has put dog owners across Birmingham on high alert.

The suspected outbreak of the infectious parvovirus in Sutton Park has led to a local vet warning that dogs should be inoculated against the potentially fatal disease.

Richard Hillman, chief veterinary surgeon at the Hillman Group, said: "Parvovirus is an extremely contagious disease among dogs and this recent discovery may indicate a new outbreak.

"It causes severe gastroenteritis, profuse vomiting and haemorrhagic diarrhoea. It can be fatal."

He added: "It can be very unpleasant and very expensive to treat, requiring intravenous drips to combat dehydration in the animal and it causes severe damage to the guts."

Mr Hillman said that if enough dogs get inoculated now there will be less chance of an outbreak next year.

He added: ""We seem to get a ripple effect early each summer depending on the amount of inoculations that have been done. If a lot of dogs are vaccinated one year, there is not so much of an outbreak the following year.

"But the immunity does lapse and this discovery can be a warning sign of a new outbreak."

The virus is primarily transmitted by the faeces of infected dogs, can also spread on shoes and clothing and on the coat and paws of dogs.

Canine Parvovirus affects all breeds of domesticated dog and foxes.

Mr Hillman, who has practices in Brownhills, Walsall and Lichfield, added: "It can exist in the environment for quite some time and it can be extremely difficult to kill.

"There can also be new strains from time to time but fortunately the vaccine manufacturers are able to keep on top of these."

A spokesman from Birmingham City Council, which is responsible for Sutton Park, said: "There was a fox found in Sutton Park over a month ago with suspected Parvovirus.

"As a matter of course we put up notices to bring it to dog owners' attention so they could ensure their dogs have the recommended, up-to-date injections against the illness."