An urgent plea for dog owners to get their furry friends vaccinated from parvovirus

The illness causes symptoms like lethargy, severe vomiting, and bloody diarrhoea, leading to life threatening dehydration.

The SPCA is warning owners to take precautions for puppies that aren't fully vaccinated, including not walking in high-risk areas and keeping them away from unvaccinated dogs.

Head Veterinarian Nathan Wong says the virus spreads through the faeces of infected dogs.

He says it can live in the ground for up to multiple years -- and if any unvaccinated dog walks through that area in that time can catch it.