Parvovirus warning issued for Seattle’s Magnuson Park dog area

A local veterinarian posted signs at the entrance of Magnuson Park’s off-leash dog area warning dog owners of exposure to parvovirus — a highly contagious and fatal disease in dogs that causes severe gastrointestinal issues.

Seattle’s Magnuson Park is one of the more popular dog parks in western Washington. Earlier this month, one of veterinarian Liz Spencer’s dog patients tested positive for parvovirus. It was later determined that the dog was likely exposed to the disease at Magnuson Park.

“It just seemed like the easiest way to kind of get the heads up to the community that we had had a patient that tested positive that probably had some level of exposure in the area,” Spencer told KIRO 7. “It’s a good time to just circle back in, make sure that they were taking care of business, getting their vaccines up to date.”

Parvovirus can be contracted through direct contact with an infected dog or through an infected dog’s feces. The virus can live in the soil for up to a year where infected dog droppings have been, according to Spencer. Symptoms include vomiting and persistent diarrhea. A dog infected with parvovirus will also appear lethargic and experience a loss of appetite.

Even vaccinated dogs can be at risk

For dogs that have received their parvovirus vaccinations, immunity provided by the vaccine can wane after three years.

“A dog where maybe their last distemper-parvo vaccine was five years ago, I’d say go down and get that updated,” Spencer told KIRO 7. “I didn’t want to put out there, oh gosh, you know everybody’s getting parvo, but I just wanted that to be a reminder to folks that we do still have some parvo around here.”

Spencer, who works at Greenlake Animal Hospital, said they see a few parvovirus cases every year in Seattle.

Contributing: KIRO 7

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