Update May 6th<\/sup><\/p>\n
Thank you so much to everyone who has supplied information. However, due to the tidal wave of replies and phone calls we have to suspend taking any more information for the moment. Our phone line has become so overloaded that our own clients can\u2019t access us for their animal\u2019s care. The sheer volume of incoming emails and Facebook questions leaves not time to do anything else so any new questions will not now be answered.<\/p>\n
What we know so far in this evolving situation.<\/p>\n
There appears to be 2 separate conditions.<\/p>\n
1)The acute vomiting bug we first alerted to: ranging from Thirroul to Albion Pk with hot spots around the Dapto parks.<\/p>\n
Information from Greyhound NSW: \u201cThe<\/em> current outbreak in greyhounds appears to be abating. GWIC does not publicise details of affected properties nor individual animals.\u00a0Very few greyhounds have died due to CCV, to our knowledge\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n
The vomiting outbreak we are dealing with does Not appear identical to this greyhound issue. However, until affected dogs are either PCR or blood tested, the cause will remain unknow and some may have indeed been this greyhound strain.<\/p>\n
Information supplied from Wollongong Council re timing of spraying and product used, suggest that spraying doesn\u2019t appear to be linked to this vomiting outbreak.<\/p>\n
Our advice remains the same:<\/p>\n
Give your dog a break from walks anywhere for a few days if you can. If you can\u2019t, then avoid the hot spots. We have already seen a reduction in the number of cases since we first posted as many people kept their dogs home or away from the parks. Others have continued to walk their dogs there and not have issues, but as Covid-19 has shown, infection doesn\u2019t need to mean clinical signs or illness. Such animals and their owners could instead be spreading the disease where it doesn\u2019t need to go. That said, it is a free world and we are not ordering owners how to walk their pets; just sharing some common sense community beneficial advice.<\/p>\n
Regardless, if you are concerned about the health of your pet, contact your vet sooner rather than later. Additional testing can be done in addition to treatment if you and or your vet deem it necessary.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2)The other health issue relates particularly to the larger dogs or those who have not left their yard. Diet may be the common link.Given the size and breeds involved, either a dog club or social meeting or diet become a more likely source of the outbreak.<\/p>\n
Of the diets fed, the Black Hawk brand, especially their\u00a0 Lamb & Rice, gets mentioned the most. Black Hawk had recalls of several food in 2018 and again issues in Dec 2019\/Jan 2020,\u00a0 so they will be most prepared of all the brands to deal quickly with any lodged concerns. We ask that all owners of these affected dogs put in a report direct to Black Hawk and also with the help of their pet\u2019s vet, lodge a report via Petfast: https:\/\/www.ava.com.au\/library-resources\/other-resources\/petfast\/<\/a> to ensure the issue is investigated asap.<\/p>\n
Other brands of mostly supermarket foods are also mentioned. Many pet foods companies here would use the same supplier for some ingredients; so, you might feed a different food to your neighbour, but the ingredients come from the same supplier. This happened with a contaminated source of fish for several dog foods in the last few years. Report the food with your own vet via Petfast: https:\/\/www.ava.com.au\/library-resources\/other-resources\/petfast\/<\/a> to ensure the issue is investigated asap.<\/p>\n
many thanks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"