As man’s best friend, dogs can bring joy to peoples’ lives, but Parvovirus (Parvo) a deadly virus that affects mostly puppies, kills hundreds of dogs and can spread fast.

Parvo affects a dog’s immune system. Symptoms start to show between 3 to 7 days of  infection.

“They don’t eat, drink and are constantly throwing up,” Montana Animal Clinic veterinarian Silva Hunter said. “Normally a dog diagnosed with Parvo has a  50/50 chance of surviving. It mostly happens during major weather changes and is usually passed by flies, mosquitos, or other infected canines.”

Montana Animal Clinic data showed that about 200 dogs die of Parvo in El Paso, on average, each year. When a dog is infected with Parvo, action must be taken immediately.

“The vet said my dog needed a vaccination,” senior Christina Doporto said. “And to spray the property with a disinfectant spray to prevent any further spread of the virus.”

It is hard see a dog suffer from an illness.

“I love dogs, and to imagine my babies fighting for their lives would be devastating,” dog owner Alejandra Holguin.

Like taking care of a loved one, a pet’s health is the number one priority for owners.

“I would do anything or pay whatever it may cost to make sure that my puppy is as safe as she can be,” mathematics teacher Corina Marrufo said. She is the owner of a 4-year-old poodle, Lulu.

There are steps to take to make sure that a dog is protected from parvo.

From The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) the best time to protect a dog from diesease is with the “5 in 1” vaccination within 6-8 weeks to helps prevent, distemper, parvovirus, and more.

Cost for medicine can be a hassle for human care and for dogs.

The cost varies for a parvo vaccination but the average cost is around $20.99 and is available at any animal clinic. Although, from the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, treatment for a dog with parvo ranges between $1,500 to $3,000 dollars.

Yet sometimes no matter what the cost, dogs are often like family.

“They are like sisters and brothers that you have to take care of,” Doporto said.