Test confirms adopted shelter puppy had distemper

CONWAY - A spokesperson says officials received notification Thursday morning that a puppy adopted from the Horry County Animal Shelter did test positive for distemper.

“Horry County Public Safety was notified at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, by Dr. Bajwa, a local veterinarian that a puppy, recently adopted at the Horry County Animal Shelter, was exhibiting symptoms indicative of distemper,“ said Public Information officer Lisa Bourcier in a news release. “Dr. Bajwa sent a tissue sample to Clemson University for lab analysis,“ Bourcier said.

Bourcier says the six-week old stray puppy in question was picked up by Animal Control along with two other litter mates on January 13. “Due to their age, they could not receive their first vaccinations until they were eight weeks of age. They received their first vaccinations on January 27, which included parvo/distemper and kennel cough,“ Bourcier said in the release.

All three puppies were adopted between February 2 and February 6. Horry County has been in communication with the other two puppy’s owners/veterinarians about their litter mate in question. 

According to Bourcier, the county is now taking the following actions:

-Staff is contacting the owners of all dogs that stayed in the small puppy treatment room, where the infected puppy was housed during its entire stay at the shelter.

-Conducting another visual assessment by a veterinarian of all animals currently residing at the shelter.

-Started a new vaccination yesterday for puppies called Recombitek, which is for canine distemper, hepatitis, para-influenza and parvo virus, which takes effect within 24-48 hours. The previous vaccination took up to 10-days for effectiveness.

-Continue the suspension of owner drop-offs and adoptions until Friday, when a decision will be made.

-Continue the daily, on-going disinfecting process of the kennels.

-Continue accepting Animal Control drop-offs.