A veterinarian in Nova Scotia is raising concerns over an outbreak of canine parvovirus in the Halifax area. Parvovirus, known for its high mortality rate if left untreated, is highly contagious and poses a serious threat to dogs.

While vaccination standards in Atlantic Canada generally provide strong immunity for the local dog population, Dr. Dan Maguire, a Halifax veterinarian, reports to Global News that the current outbreak has led to several dog deaths in the region.

“Vaccination is the best thing we can be doing for this virus,” Maguire said in conversation with Global News. “If we complete the entire puppy series correctly and then maintain it as an adult, you get protection almost 100 per cent.”

Dr. Maguire suggested that pets crossing borders with different vaccine standards might have contributed to the virus’s arrival in the Maritimes.