Crypto Blog

Miami Dade Animal Shelter Update

Miami Dade Animal Services had a large distemper, parvo and CAV breakout, multiple cases confirmed, which means you probably have the other diseases as well, plus they have a rodent infestation that has tested positive for lepto.

In an attempt to bring the outbreak under control the shelter director dispersed 500-600 untested, unvaccinated, unchipped and/or non-ID'd, dogs to rescues, shelters and private individuals throughout the US over a 4 day period several weeks ago. Reports say more sick animals are being reported again, no records were kept, no tracking or identification system was in place on the exposed or infected dogs and very little information about how to care for the dogs went with them when they left the shelter. The Shelter knew that a majority of the animals had been exposed and unless they were vaccinated against the disease and they still had titer levels in their blood they would become infected.

CAV or Infectious canine hepatitis is an acute liver infection in dogs caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1). The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys. The incubation period is 4 to 7 days. CAV-1 is destroyed in the environment by steam cleaning and quaternary ammonium compounds. Otherwise, the virus can survive in the environment for months in the right conditions. It can also be released in the urine of a recovered dog for up to a year.

Parvovirus the disease is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. It can be especially severe in puppies that are not protected by maternal antibodies or vaccination. It has two distinct presentations, a cardiac and intestinal form. The common signs of the intestinal form are severe vomiting and dysentery. The cardiac form causes respiratory or cardiovascular failure in young puppies. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases.

Leptospirosis a dog may become infected if an open wound or skin abrasion comes into contact with the urine of an infected host. Upon entering the bloodstream, symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and nausea occur. Once the organism reaches the kidney, reproduction occurs and can lead to inflammation, kidney failure, liver failure and death. Lepto can be treated if caught. The bigger issue that I see here is that the Lepto was found in rodents at the Shelter which means they have been getting into the dog and cats food meaning it is not properly sealed. Since the shelter is in Miami that also means that the food is getting soggy going bad quickly and possibly going moldy with the humidity.

The county should fire the shelter director and all the staff and start over. These issues are not new and have been going on for years now that they have been releasing very sick animals into the population without warning them that the animals are infected.

Idle Talk: