The Fix Long Beach clinic has joined the mission to save 1 million puppies nationwide from the deadly parvo virus by 2030.
Most dog owners know that parvo is nothing to wave off, and little progress has been made against the canine virus in decades. A local Long Beach pet clinic has been an early recipient and believer of a new parvo treatment like nothing the veterinary world has seen before.
Pet hospital and clinic Fix Long Beach was fortunate enough to be the first hospital in the nation to receive the treatment from Elanco Animal Health Incorporated, who developed and is distributing the treatment.
Parvo (also known as canine parvovirus) is a highly contagious, deadly disease among dogs and puppies. Up to 91% of diagnosed puppies die if not treated with timely and aggressive care. Pet owners are meant to get a round of vaccines for their young pups while they’re in the “non-socialization” phase, and a yearly booster every year following.
However, Elanco found that 60% of pet owners have no idea what parvo is or how to treat it, resulting in an estimated 900 dogs a day getting the virus. It’s why they developed the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody, a long-awaited parvo treatment that has seen phenomenal results.
Long Beach is joining Elanco in its mission to save 1 million puppies from parvo by 2030 through education, awareness and spreading the treatment to more clinics.
Sherri Stankewitz, founder of dog rescue Sparky and the Gang and a veterinarian with Fix Long Beach, said the clinic took in over 400 dogs with parvo last year. She said it’s common for owners to bring their dogs in once they’re in the late stages of parvo, making treatment more difficult and expensive, with lower chances of survival.
“Nobody wants to hear parvo in a vet office, it’s like a bad word,” Stankewitz said.
The pet clinic doesn’t only treat parvo. They mainly provide low-cost spay and neuter services, adoption opportunities and microchipping, blood work and more with a hands-on approach. Animals that spend time in the clinic are given music and movies during their stay under a skylight, are taken out regularly for massages, and puppies that come in with parvo are allowed visiting hours so they can still bond with their owner.
“As a rescuer, I don’t feel like there’s a lot of money spent on research for animals so it’s nice to see this come out. It’s such a relief.”
Sherri Stankewitz, founder of dog rescue Sparky and the Gang and a veterinarian with Fix Long Beach
The Fix Long Beach team had been hearing whispers of a new parvo treatment in the works, and regularly checked in with Elanco hoping to receive some of this new miracle drug. Finally, they got a call from Elanco saying an early treatment was ready, and invited the doctors to fly in the next day.
The Elanco team showed up at the clinic just as a desperate pup owner showed up with Cookie, a white pit bull with signs of parvo. Stankewitz estimated that Cookie would have to be on an IV for five to six days before she would be strong enough to eat and hopefully heal. With Elanco’s treatment, Cookie was eating the next day and able to go home after three days.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Stankewitz said.
It’s still a timing game, though. Stankewitz said the most important factor in saving a pup, and costing the owner in the lower thousands of dollars rather than in the tens of thousands, is to catch the signs before it’s bad.
Without Elanco, some owners would be facing $20,000 in treatment and up to a week of their dog in the clinic. Owners would often have to crowdsource for the funds or surrender their furry friend. With the new treatment, most dogs can go home in three to four days, with costs in the $2,500 range depending on the weight of the dog.
Fix Long Beach immediately became believers in the serum and purchased a large shipment, becoming the first animal hospital in the nation to use Elanco’s creation. They’ve since sold smaller amounts to other clinics and hospitals.
“As a rescuer, I don’t feel like there’s a lot of money spent on research for animals so it’s nice to see this come out,” Stankewitz said. “It’s such a relief. It’s nice to see there’s a light lifted.”
Although Fix Long Beach didn’t advertise the new treatment, Stankewitz said pet owners have been coming in “left and right” to learn about it.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, early signs of parvo include:
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain and bloating
Parvovirus is even more dangerous during rain and stormy weather, since parasites are washed up from the ground.
Fix Long Beach is located at 1749 Magnolia Ave. and takes pets by appointment only.
What is the “non-socialization phase? What age exactly?
Hello,
It’s recommended that puppies stay away from other dogs until they’ve received all of their vaccinations and boosters, which can take up to four or six months. You can read more here https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-puppy-meet-dogs/