American veterinarians are reporting a rise in pet owners refusing to vaccinate their animals, in the latest turn in the spread of the “anti-vax” movement.

Vets in hipster areas of New York are among those to have reported a significant rise in the number of pet owners rejecting immunisation over concerns propogated by fringe groups raising inflated fears of side-effects.

The growing pet anti-vax movement saw the influential US wellness website, Care2, issue a warning to anyone considering not vaccinating their pets. “Given that preventable diseases like rabies pose a serious danger to anyone around the afflicted animal, vaccine denial flies in the face of established veterinary medicine, animal welfare and community health,” the author wrote.

Stephanie Liff, owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care, with locations in the fashionable areas of both Brooklyn and Hell’s Kitchen, New York, dismissed the fears over vaccinations. “It’s a little different. My patients eat dirt. They eat poop," she said.

She added: “I had a client concerned about an autistic child who didn’t want to vaccinate the dog for the same reason. But we’ve never diagnosed autism in a dog. I don’t think you could.”