Puppy-owners have been warned about a potentially fatal disease which has been affecting dogs in the UK.
According to the Mirror, the past year has seen a spike in the number of cases of parvovirus, with a number of those affected reported to be young puppies who have been sold on without their vaccinations.
The paper details one case of a Labrador pup called Otter who was bought by his new owners at 10 weeks after they spotted an advert online. However, their delight at getting a new puppy turned to shock when he was soon diagnosed with parvovirus and had to have £4,000 for treatment to save his life.
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The dog was brought to Vets4Pets in Cirencester, Glostershire, with vomiting and diarrhoea, and as the dieseas is highly contagious, had to spend five days in an isolation ward where he was cared for by vet Martina Eyre-Brook.
She told the paper: "After five days of intravenous fluids, medication and a plasma transfusion, he was still very ill. We thought we were going to lose him.
"Just as we thought it was the end, he stopped vomiting. Thankfully, he is on the road to a full recovery. But many aren't as lucky."
Sadly, little Otter's new owners couldn't afford to pay the amount, but, fortunately, Martina has since adopted the pup.
Experts say parvovirus or parvo is the second most frightening disease for dogs, after Alabama rot, which is also said to be seeing a rise in cases in the UK.
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The disease attacks the small stomachs of pups and leave them unable to absorb nutrients, which leads to dehydration, in extreme cases, and if not caught quickly, it can also be fatal.
Parvo can be spread through dogs' poo or saliva and most cases involve puppies who get it before they've had their second set of injections - although, it can affect older dogs too.
British Veterinary Association President John Fishwick said: "We encourage owners to ensure their dogs' vaccinations are up to date. Signs of parvo include diarrhoea and vomiting, lack of appetite and depression."
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The paper reports that in Lincolnshire there were 12 cases reported in 48 hours, vets have also reported cases in Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Northumberland in recent months.
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