Hunter: Killer parvovirus warnings, as vets urge people to get dogs vaccinated

Dog owners are being urged to make sure their pets are vaccinated, especially puppies, with a spate of parvovirus sweeping through the Hunter.

Dog owners are being warned to make sure their pet is vaccinated with a spate of parvovirus making its way through Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

It killed hundreds of thousands of dogs in Australia throughout the 1970s to the 1990s.

Parvovirus is a lethal virus which can strike down predominantly young dogs. A puppy which has it, has over a 50 per cent fatality rate.

“It’s a very nasty disease,” Cardiff veterinarian Dr. Andrew Cornwell said.

Vet Dr. Andrew Cornwell has warned dog owners about being vaccinated against parvovirus. Supplied.

“Vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and the dog can become extremely lethargic and ultimately their whole immune system collapses.”

There’s been a recent spate of the deadly disease sweep through parts of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

Brought into the vet clinic at Cameron Park, a litter of young Staffy pups became extremely sick after their mother had contracted it and passed it on.

Fortunately with vaccination, the virus is uncommon, but there can still be outbreaks from time to time.

“You tend to see it pop up in low socio-economic areas, regional NSW,” Dr. Cornwell said.

“Sometimes we’ll get it in the city where someone has brought a dog in from a regional area unvaccinated and that will then introduce the virus into the local population.

“But vaccination rates in Newcastle are very high which is why it is unusual to see.”

It’s also highly contagious, mainly spread through the faeces of dogs.

“Parvovirus is an organism that can live in the soil for up to 12 months, it’s a very hearty virus,” Dr. Cornwell explained.

The parvovirus can be extremely deadly for puppies and unvaccinated dogs. File Photo.

Kennel cough has also been a recent problem across the Hunter region.

“There’s a large number of cases of kennel cough with dogs that contracted it during COVID,” Dr. Cornwell added.

“We saw a spike in kennel cough in that period of time.

“Although there is no evidence dogs and cats can contract COVID as a disease, but we do think there are going to be some other mammals that are going to be susceptible to COVID but the jury is still out on that.”

A warning to pet owners if your pooch isn’t vaccinated against diseases and viruses like this, not to take them to dog parks.

“It’s very important at this time of the year to vaccinate, especially if you want to take them to a dog park,” he said.

“Also if travelling make sure your dogs are vaccinated and to use a bit of common sense, try not to take them to areas where there might have been a large amount of other dogs.”