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VET Trevor Munro is warning pet owners to keep unvaccinated dogs indoors, after an outbreak of a deadly virus in Faversham.

Mr Munro, of Faversham Veterinary Clinic, says he has seen six confirmed cases of canine parvovirus, and suspects a further 20 dogs have the infection. The other two vets surgeries have not reported any cases.

WORRIED: Trevor Munro of Faversham Veterinary Clinic says unvaccinated dogs are at risk GIIS20120913A-001_C

Parvovirus is a highly contagious condition which causes vomiting and dysentery, and can lead to heart failure and death within 30 hours. But courses of vaccinations, with yearly boosters, prevent it.

Mr Munro, who owns the West Street surgery, explained: "We heard a rumour that lots of dogs were dropping dead and thought it was just that; a rumour.

"But in the last few weeks we've had six cases where parvovirus has been confirmed and two thirds of those dogs died of vomiting and diarrhoea.

"We've seen dogs come in seconds away from death, it's very sad."

The disease is highly contagious and can be passed from dog to dog or by contact with dog faeces.

Mr Munro stressed that the virus only affects dogs and cannot be passed to cats or humans.

He added: "Last time I saw this disease was in the Third World, treating an epidemic in Fiji. In the UK, the virus usually occurs in run-down areas because of low levels of vaccinations, so it is unusual to see it somewhere like Faversham.

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Dogs 'dropping dead' after killer virus spreads in Faversham