Parvovirus hits Walker County

For only the second time in recent years, parvovirus has shut down Walker County animal shelters.

Parvo is a rare disease that has no obvious early symptoms yet can quickly weaken and kill dogs.

Walker County coordinator David Ashburn has only had to deal with the disease once before in his career but says all necessary precautions are being taken.

"We are doing additional cleaning and as a mandatory requirement by the dept of agriculture we go on a two week shut down, quarantine type thing, to see how the other animals are reacting, whether they are getting better or if they get sick and that type thing".

The disease is highly contagious for unvaccinated dogs who come in contact with it.

And it usually affects the cardiac and intestinal areas of the animals but can be treated in animal hospitals if caught in time.