Dog virus is confirmed on island

Unvaccinated puppies are at risk from the virus

A Guernsey vet has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly dog virus, Parvo, on the island.

States vet Chris Bishop said there had been a number of cases since the beginning of the year.

It is highly infectious and resistant to the treatment effects of heat, detergents and alcohol.

Mr Bishop warned dog owners to be cautious if they were out with their pets and the animals had not been vaccinated against the virus.

Two dogs have died from the virus, which mainly affects puppies in the form of severe vomiting and diarrhoea. It is passed on in contaminated faeces.

Mr Bishop said: "Certainly in parks and public places where people might walk dogs there is always the potential for the organism to lurk there.

"The best thing is to make sure if you have an unvaccinated puppy you don't expose it to these type of environments where the risk may be prevalent."