LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Some veterinarians are warning pet owners to watch out for their dogs near areas along the river that flooded, as standing water could get them sick.
Rebekah Lee is an Associate Veterinarian at Chenal Valley Animal Hospital. She said the hospital has seen an intake of more puppies with Parvovirus.
"It affects their G.I. tract to where they can't absorb nutrients. Really bloody diarrhea, they can be really lethargic,” Lee said.
Lee said the recent spike could be because of the flood. Parvovirus can live in soil for years and all the water could have brought it to the surface in flooded areas.
"Dogs are normally vaccinated for it when they're young and then as they get older, they are immune to it,” she said. "We really harp on vaccinating your puppies because that's when they're most susceptible to that."
Lee also said to watch out for other viruses.
"Parasites of course. Some Giardia, it's in stagnant water. It's an intestinal kind of bug they can get that causes diarrhea,” Lee said.
However, Lee said it is still safe to bring your dog back home as long as you keep an eye on them.
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"You just need to be cautious that they're not drinking all that standing water and eating stuff from the ground,” Lee said.
As for cats, Lee said they are not as susceptible to these diseases.
"They can definitely get some of the intestinal bugs, but they don't tend to be as bad about drinking out of stagnant water as dogs do,” Lee said.
Lee said if you notice your dog is not eating or is feeling lethargic, call your veterinarian right away.