Animal Welfare Professionals

What is the census on parvo testing all dogs upon intake? A waste of money? Only test if signs are known? I worked at a shelter and we never tested unless we felt like signs were seen. I think that most people get scared of the P word and want to prevent it from spreading. We never want to have an outbreak but it happens at times. 

#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

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Jessica Weatherly
Director of Animal Services
Pasquotank Animal Services
NC
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We only test if there are symptoms of parvo or known exposure by unvaccinated puppies/dogs. I completely understand your concerns about an outbreak. 

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Tasha Haug
Homeward Animal Shelter
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We only test when there are symptoms or known exposure if unvaccinated. If they are an adult with exposure and a vaccine we bathe them. Testing without symptoms can give a false sense of assurance when they could test positive tomorrow. 

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Wendy Arnold
Animal Programs Manager
Humane Society of Central Oregon
OR
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"Screening" testing of apparently healthy animals (for parvo or panleuk) is not recommended, meaningful or a good use of financial or human resources. Only symptomatic animals should be tested. 

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Rachel Powell DVM
Director of Surgery
Greenhill Humane Society
Eugene, OR
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