STAFF from Benetook Veterinary Clinic are reporting one of the largest spikes in canine parvovirus cases they've ever seen.

Veterinary surgeon Dr Ealasaid Bobbin said once the parvovirus microorganism enters a dog's body, it can lead to severe symptoms.

"It's a nasty virus that we see in dogs generally," she said.

"It spreads from dog to dog, generally sort of by their poo and faeces and things...