Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease causing severe gastrointestinal illness in dogs, particularly puppies, for which vaccination is the most effective welfare intervention.
CPV causes severe suffering — haemorrhagic diarrhoea, vomiting, profound dehydration, septicaemia, and death in young dogs who have no understanding of why they are ill. The disease is largely preventable through timely vaccination, yet remains prevalent in underserved communities where vaccine access is limited. Welfare impact extends beyond direct disease suffering to the grief of owners, the welfare of surviving littermates, and the long-term effects of disease on kennelled or sheltered dog populations. Community vaccination programmes targeting high-risk populations offer significant welfare gains at relatively low cost.