Owners To Vaccinate Their Pets Following Rise In Deadly Diseases

Vets have issued a warning to pet owners who are reluctant to get their dogs vaccinated, saying that failing to protect against certain diseases could have fatal consequences.

This follows the emergence of a new trend online to instead opt for herbal remedies when treating their pooch.

With some clinics offering a 'holistic' approach to pet medical care, the warning has come from several vets, with News Corp reporting that nearly 20,000 dogs are struck with the deadly parvovirus each year.

The jab offering protection from parvovirus costs under $100, and given the high death rate from the disease, vets have urged that it is worth the money.

"It is increasingly worrying how many people are analysing and making decisions based on what they can get off YouTube and Google, rather than from peer-reviewed research or legitimate scientific journals," Dr Sam Kovac said.

"Pet anti-vaxxers are adamant that vaccinations can cause deleterious effects as severe as autism — despite the fact there are no recorded cases of animals with the condition."