Dog owners have been urged to be vigilant after the reappearance of a deadly canine disease.
The warning has come from vet Gavin Durston, of Kirriemuir practice Thrums Veterinary Group, after the dangerous Parvovirus claimed the life of a pup from one local litter.
The virus has also been detected in a couple of adult dogs and the vet group partner said it is a condition that could easily get out of control if dog owners ignore advice to ensure their pets are vaccinated against it.
“This is a potentially fatal disease in dogs which causes bloody vomiting and diarrhoea,” said Mr Durston, whose group also operates from Forfar and Blairgowrie.
“Untreated, it is usually fatal but even with the best and most intensive of treatment, not all dogs will survive. We had an outbreak among several pups and unfortunately one died but the rest came through it.
“It’s a nasty disease and, potentially, a dog can die in 24 to 36 hours. Some dogs, if they are lucky, can recover in five or six days but for others it can be several weeks and leave long-term damage.”
He continued: “Prevention is much easier than cure. We have a vaccine which is very effective and we are very keen to get as many dogs vaccinated as possible.
“When you don’t see any difference in an animal from one week to the next, we can understand why a vaccination reminder might be forgotten but this means when the disease gets into an area, it can quite easily become endemic and lead to a lot of suffering.”
Mr Durston added: “We are keen to encourage all pups to get vaccinated and, as importantly, get those older dogs whose vaccine has lapsed to start the vaccine course again.
“We have a vaccine amnesty running now, which allows the vaccine course to start again at a reduced price. We are also trying to get the word out to the general public that this is a significant risk to their dog so that they can take the simple precaution of getting their dog’s vaccination up to date.”