There has been a terrible rise in the number of cases of deadly dog disease. The Australian Veterinary Association revealed that around 200 cases of parvovirus have been reported in the past two months.

Half of the cases have been reported in NSW.

The virus, spread through infected faeces, is highly contagious.

The parvovirus is fairly resilient in the environment, thus, it can survive in the soil for quite some time. Dog owners, on the Coffs Coast, are being continuously reminded to vaccinate their pets. Although, parvovirus is generally at its nastiest in the summer months, there has been an abnormally high number of cases, this winter.

Coffs Harbor, so far, has been untouched by the outbreak.

According to vet nurse, Lauren Small, from Rose Avenue Veterinary Hospital, no cases were reported in the past couple of months. Only three cases were reported in the last 12 months.

Symptoms of the dog having the virus consist of vomiting and bloody diarrhea. It was important that the owners visited a vet as soon as possible after these symptoms appeared.

"Parvovirus is most severe in puppies, with death in around 80 per cent of untreated cases", Dr. Swinney said.