They are man's best friend, but a deadly parvo outbreak in the Treasure Valley is forcing too many people to say goodbye to their beloved dogs.

Parvo causes extreme vomiting and diarrhea in dogs until they often die of dehydration. The Idaho Humane Society says they have seen eight cases of parvo just in the last week.

There is a vaccine for parvo, but if your puppy is left unvaccinated they are at risk for the deadly disease. A recent case of people selling puppies with parvo in the Cabela's parking lot shut down puppy sales at that location.

All veterinarians can do is treat the dog with IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-nausea, and pain medications, but often times it's not enough to save the dog.

Puppies should be vaccinated every four weeks for the first 18 to 20 weeks of life, then again at a year, and once every three years after that. It may seem like a lot of vaccines, but veterinarians say that's what it takes to protect the dog.

One of the most devastating things about parvo is it can persist can come back for up to seven years according to veterinarian Alix McGrath from the Idaho Humane Society.

According to an article on idahonews.com, you can protect your puppy by not bringing them to the dog park until they have gone through the initial vaccination at 18-20 weeks. You should also seek veterinary help immediately if your puppy starts vomiting or has diarrhea. We want to do everything we can to keep our precious pups around for many years to come.

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