Vets issue warning of fatal dog disease

A warning has been issued to dog owners after a vet in Whitchurch treated a family pet for the highly contagious – and potentially deadly – parvo virus.

A confirmed case of the virus was found in a dog at Leonard Brothers Veterinary Centre for the first time in over two years. Vets today warned the virus was very contagious among dogs and owners should do all they could to prevent an outbreak.

Staff at the Whitchurch centre treated a whippet which had only been with his new owners for a week when he started vomiting.

He was taken straight to the vets before being put on a drip and given medicine for the sickness.

During the day the dog developed diarrhoea, at which this point he was tested for parvo virus, which came back positive.

Vet Andy Nelson said: "Parvo virus is a terrible condition which has a very high mortality. It causes a lot of suffering and is very easily spread to other dogs.

"Due to the high vaccination uptake in Whitchurch, this is the first case we have seen at our practice for two-and-a-half years. "I would encourage all owners of dogs to check that their vaccines are up to date.

"The virus is very difficult to treat but easy to prevent.

"If your dog goes for his normal annual vaccines then he will definitely be protected.

"However, if your dog has not been vaccinated for a while please check with your vet whether or not he needs a booster.

"If we keep vaccinating as many dogs as we can then we can prevent this isolated case becoming an outbreak."

Mr Nelson was keen to stress that the disease only affected dogs so people did not need to worry about their family, friends or other pets.

For more information about Leonard Brothers Veterinary Centre call (01948) 662424 or visit the website http://www. lbvc.co.uk/HOME/Welcome.html