EAST Lancashire’s dog population could be in danger as vets fear an outbreak of the deadly parvo virus.

Fears have arisen after vets have reported a drop in the number of dogs being immunised, as owners are tighten up their purse strings because of the credit crunch.

Veterinary practices have reported a fall in the number of animals having booster immunisations.

Vets say the number of dogs being vaccinated at a cost of £30 has dropped by 20 per cent since October and is continuing to fall.

Without the booster jabs vets are warning that infections such as the deadly parvo virus, which is endemic to England, will spread quickly throughout the region.

Josie Strutynsky, practice manager of the Town and Country Veterinary Group which has sites in Blackburn, Darwen and Clayton-le-Moors said: ”The credit crunch has affected the number of people that are bringing their animals in for booster jabs.

“It seems that people are only bringing in their animals when they are getting ill and putting off bringing them in for their boosters, but it will cost owners more in the long run when their dogs get ill.

“We are particularly concerned about dogs, there has was a 15 per cent drop in people bringing them in November and a further five per cent drop in December, and it is continuing to fall.

“We are extremely worried about this. If people do not get their dogs vaccinated there will be another outbreak of the deadly parvovirus and a lot of dogs will die.”

The parvovirus is highly contagious and can be fatal within 48 to 72 hours, it killed thousands of dogs in an outbreak in the 1970s.

RSPCA spokesman for Lancashire Sophie Corless said: “Ensuring your animal has injections to prevent it from contracting serious diseases is vital.

"The RSPCA advises pet owners to take the advice of their vet about which vaccinations their animal should have to ensure it is fully protected from illness and disease."