DOG owners are being warned to ensure their pets are vaccinated, following an outbreak in Gwent of a potentially deadly disease.

Staff at Summerhill Veterinary Surgery, New-port, are warning dog owners to vaccinate their dogs after treating 12 dogs with parvo virus in the last two weeks. Two have died. The virus can kill a dog within 24 hours and is easily passed on to other dogs through contact.

It is treatable if spotted straight away - but even then the chance of survival is at best 50-50.

The disease attacks the dog's digestive system and reduces the animals into lifeless souls unable to eat or drink.

Complacency about vaccinations is being blamed on the outbreak of the disease. Urging people to bring their dogs in for a vaccine, veterinary nurse Lesley Jones told the Argus: "I have been here 18 years and it is one of the most distressing diseases to treat. The dog loses all its energy and cannot even be bothered to wag its tail.

"Symptoms of the disease include that your dog becomes lifeless and goes off its food and drink.

"The disease triggers vomiting and diarrhoea with blood. If treated straight away the dog can be saved, but if not it will almost certainly die within 24 hours."

As the disease attacks the dog's body, it becomes dehydrated and too ill to drink or eat. Dogs brought in for treatment at the veterinary surgery are put in isolation, where they are given antibiotics and fed intravenously by drip.

Ms Jones added: "We have had 12 dogs in within the last fortnight, one from the Pontypool area, the rest from Newport.

"Two have died and. sadly. the last one we treated from Alway doesn't look like it will survive."

"The disease had virtually been eradicated through vaccinations but I think people have become complacent.

"We charge £40 for puppies, £30 for older dogs, for a vaccination against seven diseases including the parvo virus - it is a price well worth paying to avoid seeing your dog suffer like that."

*PICTURED: Vet Paul McCarthy vaccinates a border collie against parvo virus.