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03-07-2021
Bureau Report
MELBOURNE: A warning has been issued for dog owners as a canine gastro outbreak spreads through Melbourne’s inner-east.
A Richmond vet told 9News his clinic has been seeing up to 30 dogs a day with gastro, who were likely catching the bug at popular parks.
Golden Retriever Lenny had to be rushed to emergency after falling ill with gastro.
“He was vomiting and just not acting like himself at all,” owner Maddy Robin said.
“He would only really eat if I literally spoon-fed him.”
“Obviously all I was thinking was the worst.”
Dr Ross Ansell warned the bug was very contagious.
“As we know with the pandemic, these things can escalate,” he said.
“You only need someone to take a sick dog into the park and there are 100 dogs down there, it’s like a sick kid going into kindergarten.”
The bug can last anywhere from a few days to a matter of weeks and is spread through canine social interaction.
While it’s not always serious, some dogs have needed hospitalisation and rehydration treatment.
Yarra City Council’s compliance team is performing spot checks, but some owners aren’t too fazed.
“I’m not worried at the moment but if he got gastro again I’d just stop coming here,” one local dog owner said.
Vets say if your dog is healthy there is no reason to stay away from the park but if you pooch is showing symptoms, they must stay home to stop the spread.
