CANINE parvovirus has infected a number of dogs in the Jimboomba area in recent months and Jimboomba vet Ian Gallagher says young dogs and puppies are at risk without vaccination.
Parvo is particularly deadly to puppies but most older dogs will still die as a result of infection.
Jimboomba Veterinary Surgery's Mr Gallagher warned encouraged dog owners to get their furry friend vaccinated as soon as possible.
“We have seen it a few times in the last couple of months, it is definitely here, it’s one of those things that it is always around but you tend to get outbreaks,” he said.
“There’s no direct treatment or cure or antidote, it’s a virus that the majority of dogs or puppies that get it will die, and it’s also expensive to treat.
“It’s a horrible way for them to die, anyone who has seen their dog die of parvo will always vaccinate afterwards.”
Mr Gallagher said the problem with the virus is that it is hard to eradicate and the only way to protect your dog is vaccination and keeping unvaccinated puppies away from areas that are likely to be contaminated.
“It lasts in the environment for a while which is a big point, a dog can get a horrible diarrhoea with it and that then contaminates the area for a long time,” he said.
“It’s a virus that is very vicious to young dogs and puppies in particular, but the big thing is vaccination - if they are vaccinated they are protected.
"Where we see it more is in young puppies whose mothers weren't vaccinated so they haven’t got any resistance to it passed on, you usually never see it in dogs that have been vaccinated.”
Mr Gallagher said dogs should receive a program of three vaccinations at six to eight weeks of age, which should then be followed up by yearly boosters to keep your canine safe.
“We really push vaccination and not exposing young unvaccinated dogs to public places where they might get exposed to it," he said.
"The key point is vaccination and keeping puppies away from public areas until two weeks after their last puppy vaccination."
