Councillors and vets have issued a warning after an surge in the number of dogs being diagnosed with a contagious and potentially fatal illness.

A number of dogs across Darwen have been diagnosed with parvovirus, a virus that causes severe illness and death in dogs.

We spoke with two devastated pet owners who had to set up fundraisers to pay for their vet bills after their pooches fell ill.

Emily Irvine’s cockador, cocker spaniel mixed with labrador, was fighting for her life at the vets after contracting the disease.

She was left with around £14,000 worth of vet bills and believes Bailey caught the disease at Blacksnape Playing Fields.

Darwen woman Amy Riley thinks her puppy, Cookie, caught parvovirus near Ivinson Road or Ash Grove, while being taken on a walk.

Cookie spent 10 days being treated at the vets but returned home on June 22, where she is still recovering.

Darwen Doggies, a group where dogs and owners can socialise, even cancelled its meet up in June after a surge in cases in and around the town.

Vets and councillors have since issued an update and advice about protecting your pups from the illness.

Councillor Matt Jackson (Darwen South, Labour) said: “There appears to be an increase in the number of reported canine parvovirus cases in Darwen of late.

"It’s not a worrying amount, but enough to take precautions.”

Martin Eden, strategic director of environment and operations, has urged pet owner to clean surfaces and pet items.

He said: “Unfortunately, Parvovirus can survive in the environment for many months – meaning it can be found almost anywhere that dogs go, such as gardens, parks and fields.

“It can also travel in dirt, so can be found on the bottom of shoes, inside houses, on dog leads, collars, bowls, clothes, toys, and even on human hands."

Mr Eden added that the council is happy to clean certain streets where owners think there is increased risk of dogs getting the virus.

He said: “In terms of any action that can be taken in the home, the use of a disinfectant is useful, although disinfectants claiming to kill viruses does not mean it kills all viruses, such as certain strains of parvovirus, so selecting the correct disinfectant may be something dog owners wish to discuss with their local vet.

“The onus is on the dog owner to manage both the vaccination and also the cleaning the dog's food and water bowls, bed, toys, and other things it may lick or put its mouth on.

“The council does not have any powers to regulate or assist further with in these areas.

"We are happy to help sweep up areas as part of our street cleansing regime, where we can access pavements with our mechanical sweeper, but unfortunately there is very little we can do where dogs forage and use grassed areas.

“In containing this terrible virus, it is important that dog owners clean up their dog mess.

"We hope that the community can do their bit to help us and themselves by letting us know if and when dog fouling is happening in their area, so we can send staff out on patrol to issue fixed penalty notices to owners who fail to clean up after their dogs”

A spokesperson for Myerscough Veterinary Group, which has 18 branches across Lancashire, has warned pet owners not to panic and to get their dog vaccinated against parvovirus.

They said: “We have seen an increase in parvovirus cases, but this has been across Lancashire in pockets, with Darwen being one of the affected areas.

“Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease, spread by infectious faeces, that can stay in the environment for a long time.

“It causes haemorrhagic vomiting and diarrhoea, with animals also not wanting to eat and being very weak.

“It affects the bone marrow, so the affected dog cannot produce white blood cells for the body to defend itself against the virus.”

According to the vet without intensive treatment in an isolation ward it can be fatal.

Around one in four dogs treated for parvovirus by the Myerscough Veterinary Group team die.

A spokesperson said: “Parvovirus cases really affect all veterinary staff, as we work so hard to try and make them better, but despite our huge efforts as a team survival rate is only approximately 75 per cent, which is very good compared to a national average.

“It is horrible to see such unwell animals affected by a disease that can be prevented by vaccination.

“Parvovirus can be protected against with annual vaccinations. Most affected animals are unvaccinated adults dogs or puppies after they have had their primary vaccination course but before they had received their booster at a year old.

“For this reason, we recommend an additional vaccine as part of the primary vaccinations just against parvovirus, which can be given to puppies at 16 weeks of age, up to six months of age as additional protection.”

According to the Blue Cross parvovirus, also known as canine parvovirus, CPV or parvo, is a very infectious disease that can be fatal. 

The virus attacks cells in a dog’s intestines and stops them from being able to absorb vital nutrients. This means that a dog or puppy will become very weak and dehydrated.

Parvovirus spreads through body fluids, including in a dog’s faeces and vomit. It can also survive in the environment outside the body, for example in the grass at a park, for at least six months, and possibly much longer.

Your dog can even contract parvo by sniffing another dog’s faeces and it’s not uncommon for dogs to catch parvo when out for a walk.

If your dog has come into contact with bedding, food and water bowls, carpet, or a kennel that a dog with parvovirus has touched, they can catch the virus. Parvo can also be spread on shoes, clothing and human hands.

Symptoms of parvovirus include: 

  • foul-smelling diarrhoea with blood in it
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • collapse
  • depression
  • fever
  • sudden death

Has your dog been diagnosed with parvovirus? Send your story to: sarah.mcgee@newsquest.co.uk