Anyone experience having a dog park exposed to Parvo? I have spoken to two vets that say treat the area with Chlorox Bleach but when you research it it is not recommended for organic surfaces (grass and dirt). Called the health department and parks and recreation and they had no clue.
You need to get products specifically designed for Parvo. And even then, it is recommended that you close down the area for a minimum of 6 months (it's actually recommended a year to 18 months) to prevent additional spread. It may seem excessive but how much could you be sued for by allowing someone's puppy to be exposed and die a miserable death. I am so sorry you are dealing with this....I have fostered 3 puppy litters and 2 adult dogs with Parvo. The adults survived but only a couple of the puppies survived....out of over 20 puppies. Vaccinated adult dogs should be okay in the area but no puppies, pregnant or nursing mothers, or elderly dogs should be allowed in the area. There is no way you can be absolutely certain that whatever treatment you use will effectively reach all affected areas.
Are you sure your pet park is to blame? Parvovirus can be brought into a home from one’s shoes who could have been infected anywhere? This is the first that I have heard of a community having this issue. If your park is infected then you will have to shut down for at least 7 months however it can be in your yard for at least 1 year
Vet Approved Answer
According to Cornell’s vet school:
Do NOT bleach your grass, but you can bleach any surfaces that the dog may have pooped on
A combination of rain/watering down the lawn, along with sunlight will bring down the number of virus particles to acceptable in a few weeks.
Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and the best defense when it comes to outdoor.
Adult, fully vaccinated dogs, after diluting the area with water/rain should be okay but they may want to consider shutting down the park for 1 month, or just advise everyone what happened and let them use it at their own risk.
When using bleach on any surface, mix it 1 part bleach to approx 30 parts water
Any dog who is not vaccinated or is less than 18 months old, should NOT go to the park for the next month or so.
The goal of outdoor virus control is to limit the numbers of viral particles, you’ll never fully eradicate all of the virus, but the best option is to water down the area multiple times, and make sure all organic material (poop and potential vomit) is picked up.