A NORTH-EAST veterinary group has urged dog owners to ensure their pets are vaccinated against parvovirus after the deadly disease nearly killed two puppies in the space of a week.

A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, from Stockton, was brought to Westway vets showing symptoms of parvovirus. Days later, a ten-week-old Jack Russel puppy from Gateshead was brought to the hospital showing the same symptoms.

The puppies were badly dehydrated after suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea and took three days on a drip to recover.

Symptoms of parvovirus include foul-smelling diarrhoea with blood in it, vomiting, loss of appetite, collapse, depression, fever and shock.

Jenny Shell, of Westway Vets Group, said: “It was touch and go for both these puppies, who would have likely contracted parvo before their owners even bought them.”

The owner of the Jack Russel, Jackie Bell, bought her puppy off Gumtree. She was told by the seller that her puppy was fully vaccinated.

Mrs Bell said: “When we brought Maggie home, she was absolutely fine, but became ill on the second day. She was very lethargic, constantly getting up to vomit and had diarrhoea.

"I think we got her to the vets just in time. I think any later and she would have died as she was so poorly.”