Companion Animals

Companion Dog Parvovirus Prevention and Vaccination

Canine parvovirus is a severe, often fatal disease that is entirely preventable through vaccination, yet unvaccinated dog deaths continue.

Key Facts

Parvovirus causes haemorrhagic gastroenteritis with high mortality if untreated
Puppies are most vulnerable, particularly between weaning and full vaccination
The virus is highly stable in the environment and can survive for months
Intensive care treatment is expensive and not always available
Vaccination provides long-lasting protection and is the cornerstone of prevention

Welfare Considerations

Parvovirus causes severe suffering and a distressing death in unvaccinated dogs. This is entirely preventable. Every dog death from parvovirus represents a failure of vaccination access, owner knowledge, or both. Improving vaccination coverage is a direct welfare gain.

What You Can Do

Ensure all puppies complete the primary vaccination course
Keep vaccination records up to date with regular boosters
Support low-cost vaccination programmes in underserved communities