News

‘No proof’ of fatal dog illness at Nottinghamshire park following rumours

By Joseph Connolly, Local Democracy Reporter

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Rushcliffe Borough Council has confirmed it is not aware of any confirmed cases of the deadly dog disease parvovirus stemming from a park in West Bridgford following a rumour that four pets had died from the illness.

Stories circulated in mid-July about the prevalence of the fatal infection after a group of Travellers who arrived at the park were said to have told some locals with dogs to stay away from Bridgford Park after their own canines had died. But the council says it has had no reports and the stories appear to be false.

Councillor Jonathan Wheeler, the council’s portfolio holder for parks, said: “We’ve had no confirmed cases whatsoever and thousands of people and hundreds of dogs pass through that park every day. I think we would’ve heard about it by now if there was a virus there, as it has been four weeks since it was reported.

“I’m not saying it definitely wasn’t there, just that we have no concrete proof that it’s a live issue that’s ongoing and is a risk to dogs. My brother’s dog goes there four times a week and as a labrador eats anything he can find. He’s fine. I was there on Saturday and it was rammed full of people with dogs too and was throughout the whole of last week with the good weather.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service investigated after a local dog owner expressed his concern about taking his dog to the park, having not heard anything since the rumour spread. Councillor Wheeler said that the park was deep-cleaned after the Travellers exited the area.

Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease which is most common in puppies. There is a vaccine, usually given to dogs when they are young, which is effective in limiting the effects of the disease, though it doesn’t entirely prevent dogs from catching it.

Symptoms of parvovirus include:

• Bloody diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Collapse
• Fever
• Lethargy

Parvovirus was reported in Nottinghamshire earlier this year after a vets in Netherfield confirmed one case. It was not confirmed whether the case proved fatal to the dog.

Dogs usually require hospitalisation if they catch parvovirus, as the severe levels of dehydration often mean they need to be put on a drip and given antibiotics and antiviral medication.

It is often fatal however, so vaccination is highly recommended.

A spokesperson for Rushcliffe Borough Council confirmed that it is not aware of any cases of parvovirus on Bridgford Park in West Bridgford.

The RSPCA said it would not deal with local cases of parvovirus amongst pet dogs.