Okotoks is experiencing a Parvovirus outbreak and dog owners are encouraged to keep an eye on their furry friends.

Canine Parvoviurs (CPV) has two different forms: the common intestinal form that is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lack of appetite and the cardiac form which attacks puppies heart muscles in most cases leading to death.

The Elizabeth Street Pet Hospital has dealt with ten different cases within the past month and Office Manager Lindsay Adams says it's very important to vaccinate your dogs.

"Well Parvovirus is pretty much everywhere, at any given time. So prevention would be to make sure if you have a puppy it's fully vaccinated with three vaccines and if say you have an immune, compromised older dog just to make sure the vaccine is up to date."

Puppies are very susceptible to the virus so it's critical to keep them up to date, first set of vaccines are given at 6-8 weeks of age and then followed up with two more vaccines 3-4 weeks apart.

Vet and Owner of Elizabeth Street Pet Hospital Dr. Marco Bregliano says places where dogs may frequent are places you need to watch for.

"If you do have a new puppy, avoid places where the puppy may come in contact with the Parvovirus. Which is dog parks, areas where a lot of dogs may frequent. There's also been a couple places in particular like dog kennels or dog breed facilities. We've seen a large number of puppies come out of animal houses with the Parvovirus."

Dogs can contract the illness through direct contact with a contaminated dog or indirectly by the fecal-oral route.

Begliano says, "if a dog does have Parvovirus it's treated basically accordingly to the symptoms, there is no actual cure for the virus but the symptoms are treated. So if a puppy comes in with vomiting and diarrhea then we help alleviate and control those symptoms through medications to limit the vomiting and the diarrhea...when they are affected by this virus they are usually put on IV fluids and antibiotics until its run its course, sometimes for the puppies that are severely affected even despite all the treatments... they can succumb to the virus."

Pet owners are asked to keep watch for certain symptoms and to call their vet if symptoms are present or your dog needs to be vaccinated.

Humans on the other hand can not contract the disease.