Dogs in danger from killer virus

9:43am Monday 2nd October 2006

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DOG owners are being urged to vaccinate their pooch against a killer virus after an outbreak of the deadly disease in Hertfordshire.

The warning comes after four dogs died of the virus in Hitchin and follows outbreaks of the disease in East Anglia, Staffordshire and Scotland earlier in the summer.

Parvovirus is highly contagious and causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting in dogs, resulting in death in about half the cases.

The virus is easily spread from dog to dog either through physical contact or by contact with any surface previously contaminated by faeces.

It can also lie dormant in the environment for months and can resist conventional disinfectants.

Due to high levels of vaccination following an epidemic in the 1970s the disease had become extremely rare.

However following a spate of recent dog deaths across the country, and now in Hertfordshire, experts fear that levels of vaccinations are slipping.

Vets in St Albans are now urging owners to check the vaccination status of their dogs on the advice of the National Office of Animal Welfare (Noah).

Gail Hornby, a nurse at Animalism in St. Stephens Hill, said the surgery is making owners aware of the issue, but added the problem may lie with people who do not bother to bring their dog to see a vet.

She said: "When people come in with puppies we are making them very aware of the vaccinations.

"We are warning all of our clients of the severity of the condition."

Phil Sketchley, chief executive for Noah, added: "Just because your dog had its jabs as a puppy, does not mean it is protected now.

"This dreadful disease can be prevented by a simple vaccination but the reason we are seeing this increase is because not enough dogs are vaccinated against it.

"Prevention is the only way to ensure that a dog remains healthy."