Update from RSPCA ACT regarding Canine Parvovirus and Capacity Challenges

29 Jan 2025

On the 28 January 2025, the RSPCA ACT provided the following update for the ACT Veterinary community regarding Canine Parvovirus matters and capacity challenges at their shelter.

Canine Parvovirus Update

The RSPCA ACT has encountered two unrelated Canine Parvovirus (CPV) issues in the past week and wishes to inform veterinarians to prevent the spread of misinformation and unnecessary concern within the veterinary and pet-owning community.

In summary, there are the following two unrelated matters:

  1. There was a potentially false positive reading for a publicly owned dog RSPCA ACT had in our care for two days (assumed to be vaccine related);
  2. RSPCA ACT had a litter of neonatal puppies in their care who, after a week and a half, developed diarrhoea, tested positive for CPV, and who sadly had to euthanise.

The diagnosis and subsequent euthanasia of the puppies has been distressing for all involved. RSPCA ACT thanks go to the staff at CVES for their assistance and support over the weekend. The cases have been logged on ParvoAlert.com.

Part of RSPCA ACT disease management process is evaluating the risk of CPV contamination of the shelter, and the risk of disease transmission in our canine population. Although RSPCA ACT cannot completely rule out the possibility of CPV contamination in the rest of the Shelter, the puppies were housed and cared for in an area separate from the rest of the dog population and their symptoms were detected and acted upon quickly. Thorough decontamination of the affected area and all possible fomites has been and continues to be performed. The risk to the rest of the RSPCA ACT shelter population is considered low, as all the dogs are vaccinated, and the at-risk population (dogs under 6 months of age) is small.

The provision of RSPCA ACT veterinary and shelter services will continue as normal.

RSPCA ACT will be promoting the importance of vaccination in preventing CPV and other diseases through their public communications, a message they hope everyone in the veterinary community can support.

Potential false positive CPV matter: 

  • The matter pertains to two puppies who were surrendered to RSPCA ACT.  As per their usual protocols, these dogs received vaccinations upon intake.  
  • After only two days in their care, the original owner reclaimed these dogs.  
  • The following week, after being reclaimed, one of these dogs became unwell and was taken to ARH.  
  • RSPCA ACT understand that a CPV test was initially done at ARH and might have yielded a false positive as the owner was not aware of the vaccination the dogs received in our care.  
  • This case is still being managed at this time of issuing this update.

CPV pups at the Shelter:

  • The second matter pertains to a large litter and nursing mum who was surrendered into RSPCA ACT care the previous week in less than stellar condition.  Due to the young age, these puppies were not yet vaccinated.
  • On the morning of 26th January, RSPCA ACT found two puppies deceased in their whelping area.  The mum and the remaining eight pups were taken to CVES, and two of the pups were PTS at CVES due to positive CPV results.  RSPCA-ACT sincerely thanks to the staff at CVES for the assistance, care and kindness to RSPCA ACT staff.
  • Following testing back at RSPCA ACT, four out of the remaining six puppies tested positive CPV and sadly had to make the decision to euthanise all six puppies early that evening on site.
  • The mum, as a vaccinated adult dog, tested negative and will be remaining in isolation for the next few days as a precaution. RSPCA ACT will retest her again and will be carefully monitoring her over the next few days. RSPCA ACT have triggered strict isolation and animal care protocols.  RSPCA ACT have some degree of confidence that there is low risk to the shelter population.

Shelter Capacity Update

RSPCA ACT are continuing to experience very high animal intake, and they have been operating at, or above capacity for some time. The sheer number of sick cats and kittens coming into their care is placing enormous strain on their very limited resources. The RSPCA ACT appreciate the support and help from the veterinary community, and they will be reaching out to veterinary practices shortly requesting assistance with some of the 100+ animals currently awaiting desexing.