A deadly virus for puppies is spreading unusually fast around the Flathead Valley this winter.
A 9 week old pit bull picked up by animal wardens earlier this week doesn't have a home or a name, but she is in for the fight of her life.
Flathead County Animal Shelter Manager Trista Sapp says, "It's been really hard on her. She's doing well. She wags her little tail every time I take her out but she's really just not feeling well. She sleeps probably 23 hours a day."
The puppy was abandoned, and near death in Columbia Falls when it was found just days ago. She has parvo. The virus attacks the intestines and sometimes the heart. Only half of the dogs who have it survive.
Sapp says, "Parvo does live in the ground, but it will freeze in the winter generally and we don't see a lot of it... We have seen more this year. We had a minor outbreak last month."
Last month, the Flathead County Animal Shelter lost ten puppies to parvo. That's rare for this time of year. But with this winter's unusually warm weather, it's become a harsh reality for shelter workers.
Sapp says, "It really is a tough decision because they often are suffering and even with treatment, you end up losing a lot."
Parvo is treatable with antibiotics and a lot of fluids, so workers say they're holding on to hope that treatment will work and they won't lose the 9 week old pit bull without a name.
Parvo is highly contagious. Symptoms include vomitting, diarrhea, fevers, and weakness. If you think your dog has the virus, vets say to get it treated immediately. Dogs that have been properly vaccinated should not contract parvo.
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