After following poor ww's postings and I resonded wondering if it was this new mystery virus, I thought I would post this for those that have not read about it.
It seems to have been first noticed just after LKA(Mid Dec).

Symptoms vary but all dogs are depressed and vomiting, (some vomiting blood) refusing food and water. Some owners have reported that the dog behaves as if there is something stuck in the throat, retching together with drooling. Many do not have a temp and do not have diarear(SP). Some start off by shivering violently before vomiting starts, and some vomit bile in large qauntities. Some have awful diarear some continue to have normal bowel movements despite being very sick. One dog that was blood tested had a very low platelet count (blood clotting agent) .

One vet involved in treatment said it could be something to do with campylobacter.

Most dogs responded to anti-emetics, kaolin,anti-inflammatoories ( steroids), antibiotics, electolytes, and put on a drip, sometimes for as long as 2 weeks. Most dogs who were put on a drip very quickly responded to treatment though complete recovery could take several weeks and in one case a few months.

Some of the owners seemed to have suffered from something simaliar, having very sore throats, headache,lethargy and aching joints and a cough with a feeling that they had something stuck in their throats. Makes me think of Leptospirosis, though vets involved seem to think of a Parvo mutation.

The most important factor in eventual recovery seems to be to put them on a drip asap, together with the other treatments mentioned above, and not to assume that sudden sickness/diarear is "simple". As anti biotics do not work on a virus, I suppose they were given as a "belt and braces", or to inhibit bacterial infection. All very worrying. There have been dozens of cases reported in Jane Lilley's column in Dog Worldareas mentioned: Durham, Skegness, Maidstone, Wheathampstead (Herts) , Upminster, Leeds, Hawick (Scotland). It seems to be countrywide.

When I have puppies I usually encourage prospective owners to visit at least once when they are small (about 4-5 weeks) and more often if they would like - distances allowing, but I think I shall discourage this now, sadly. I am also very worried about attending shows/doggy events, though there have been no reports of it in my area yet. Have any posters any more info?

Its just a thought but wth all these dogs coming in on pet passports it makes you wonder about 'New Viruses' doesnt it? in veiw of the tick problem etc... do you think we have opened up a hornets nest with the travel scheme???

I always assumed that was the reason that even coming from a Rabies free country like UK, in Australia the puppy I sent over had to do a months Quarantine.

I am about to use Pets to go to the World show, but I do think we were rash in relaxing Quarantine too far, and also still expecting 6 months from other countries, now that the anti rabies vaccines are much more effective.

Showing or quick holiday trips really isn't good enough reason for this relaxation. I know it is hypocritical of me, but I think all dogs should come into quarantine, and be released after a month when blood titres and tests for parasitic diseases have been done. I also feel that Quarantine time from other countries could be reduced. After all they are given a Rabies Vacccine as soon as theycome in, even if they have recently had one! They could be checked for Heartworm etc etc.

I have never understood the logic of puppies whelped in Quarantine being allowed out at 8 weeks, and theDam that they have had intimate contact with has to stayin for six months!

Mattie, I wondered the same when the pet's passport scheme was first mentioned. Our animals have been sheltered from many things for years now, bit like explorers taking flu to the natives years ago, one does have to ask whether diseases that dogs in other countries get and recover naturally from would have the same effect on ours and show up as a more serious disease. Ingrid

Yes, when I heard the PP scheme was "going through" my blood ran cold. There must be lots of diseases that have mutations that have developed abroad that our dogs have no immunity to. It did seem to be just days after the LKA that the first dog became ill. I haven't checked my catalogue but there may have been imports there? Its not just rabies and ticks that we have to worry about. Although quarantine must be very unpleasant for dogs and owners I personally think it was a mistake to drop it. I believe many dogs have died following tick infestations after coming home.

There also seems to be some doubt now as to the validity of tick 'n' taping them prior to re-entry into the UK. Advice now seems to be to 'frontline' animals prior to actually taking them out the country. They then have some defence against anything they do pick up whilst they are away. This seems to be a logical move to me :rolleyes:

As for all these 'new' viruses, I do not feel that we can lay all the blame, at the door of imported dogs tho, although they do make a good scape goat. I do think that you have to take into account so many other enviromental and geographical considerations.

Climate changes for one. As our weather gets warmer and wetter, we are undoubtably going to see the rise in different types of viruses. I am not saying that the import/export of animals are not to blame in some ways, but I do think that there are many more factors to be considered. :-)