Dogs at both Fort Worth city animal shelters have tested positive for Canine Distemper Virus, a contagious and often fatal condition.
Dogs at both Fort Worth city animal shelters have tested positive for Canine Distemper Virus, a contagious and often fatal condition.
Dogs at both Fort Worth city animal shelters have tested positive for Canine Distemper Virus, a contagious and often fatal condition.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Both Fort Worth Animal Care and Control shelters remain closed Monday as city veterinarians attempt to contain a Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak.
Shelter staff first noticed a dog exhibiting CDV symptoms on March 22. That stray had recently arrived at the shelter, officials said.
Further testing revealed an outbreak with nearly 20 infections. Veterinarians have since euthanized 18 sick dogs to control the virus’s spread.
“This animal is not only suffering, but it can simply spread (CDV) in the air or just from being in the same play yard as other dogs,” city communications coordinator Brenda Matute told WFAA. “Having to choose the life of ten animals versus the life of one has been really difficult, especially for our staff who interact with these animals every day.”
Canine Distemper Virus is highly contagious and often lethal, CityVet’s Dr. Andrea Pribula said.
Almost immediately after infection with CDV, a dog will exhibit cold-like symptoms: runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever. Vomiting and diarrhea may begin five to seven days after exposure, followed soon by muscle twitches, seizures and, potentially, paralysis, Pribula said.
“It’s about a 50-50 chance,” Pribula said. “There’s no treatment and no antiviral medication for it. It’s just supportive care: trying to maintain their hydration status, control the symptoms you can and wait it out.”
The FWACC shelters have been closed to the public since Thursday. The City suspended animal intakes then, though animal control officers remain obligated to pick up violent, sick or injured animals.
Matute said families who are already fostering shelter dogs can bring their animals to the shelters for drive-through CDV testing, but the City will not release currently sheltered dogs to new foster families.
“We don’t want this to spread into the community,” Matute said. “Really, the entire shelter is at a standstill.”
FWACC has withdrawn from upcoming dog adoption events, including a massive drive hosted by the Humane Society of North Texas on April 5 and April 6. Cats will still be available for adoption at PetSmart stores on Hulen and in Alliance.
Volunteering opportunities are also canceled.
Additionally, Fort Worth officials have asked people who come across healthy, calm strays to keep them for at least four days. Those people should call animal control, who will send officers to register the dog and ensure it’s vaccinated. Strays can be reported under these guidelines.
“That would really help us because it’s one less animal in our shelter,” Matute said. “That’s one less sick animal and it gives us a couple of days to either find the owner or a rescue willing to take it.”
Because they sometimes mingle with each other, dogs at both FWACC campuses have tested positive for CDV, Matute said. The City is waiting on about 150 test results to determine whether the outbreak is contained. That information will determine when the shelters can re-open to the public.
Irving and Dallas’s animal shelters also limited intakes this month because of an illness. Monday, officials for each shelter confirmed to WFAA none of their dogs tested positive for CDV. Instead, those sick animals had contracted less serious illnesses, including the common ‘kennel cough.’
Dallas officials said more dogs are now recovering than falling ill. The City began rescheduling some owned-pet surrenders on Sunday, though it is still not accepting walk-in surrenders or strays delivered over-the-counter.
“We are carefully gauging the number of dogs we can reasonably accept per day without hitting 100% capacity,” a Dallas spokesperson said. “We cannot continue to operate above capacity, which increases the risk of disease spread.”
Irving officials are waiting for one more dog’s test results before resuming normal operations, an official said.
There is a vaccine for distemper. It is considered an “essential,” meaning most domesticated dogs have been immunized.
“If you’re already pretty cautious and keep up with their vaccinations, I think your risk is very minimal because the vaccine is protective,” Pribula said.
Humans can transmit the virus on their shoes, clothes and skin. Pribula recommended minimizing exposure to unfamiliar pets or wildlife, which can also carry viral material.
Her office has not seen a CDV case. She added there is no indication the virus is spreading through Fort Worth’s “general” pet population.