Vets are issuing a warning to dog owners as a potentially fatal dog disease has now spread throughout the UK.

There have been 2,762 confirmed cases of the potentially deadly parasite lungworm across the country.

Within 50 miles of Coventry, 374 cases have been reported.

Lungworm was originally believed to be limited to southern regions, but research has revealed the parasite’s presence has spread up to Scotland.

The parasite resides in the heart and blood vessels of an infected animal where it lays eggs that get carried to the lungs.

Experts from Vets4Pets and Bayer are working to raise awareness of the disease amongst dog owners and vets, focusing on areas which were previously thought to be safe.

Dr Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, said: “The continued spread of the lungworm parasite throughout the UK over the past ten years or so means the UK dog population is increasingly at risk.

“Cases of lungworm being seen in Scotland shows that the parasite can easily establish itself in a new area that wasn’t considered a traditional place for cases.

“Previous studies have shown that practices in south Wales and south-eastern England were between 15 and 16 times more likely to see a case than anywhere else in the UK, but this is slowly changing.”

What are the signs of lungworm?

Lungworm larvae are produced inside the dog or fox and pass through their faeces, which are eaten by slugs and snails, where the parasite can then develop inside these hosts.

If a dog eats an infected slug or snail, or comes into contact with their slime, they can become infected.

Unfortunately lungworm can often be difficult to diagnose, with some dogs not showing signs of infection for months, meaning sudden death can occur, particularly in younger dogs.

The signs can also be very variable, and the coughing and breathing difficulties can often be confused with conditions like kennel cough.

“Common signs of the disease include coughing and breathing problems, but also weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness, blood clotting or excessive bleeding from small wounds and changes in behaviour,” continued Dr Stacey.

“However, in many cases of lungworm, a dog doesn’t display any clear signs of the disease for quite some time, or if they do, the signs can present very differently in each dog.

“An untreated dog that isn’t showing signs of lungworm can even excrete larvae for at least two years before it is treated, spreading the parasite around its local area.”

How is it treated?

“Diagnosis of lungworm is not always easy, and there have been cases where dogs who have unrecognised lungworm have died due to blood loss during routine operations like neutering, as it causes excessive bleeding from wounds,” continued Dr Stacey.

“However, the disease is completely preventable, and the best way to stop your dog from contracting lungworm is to use worming tablets or spot-on treatments. Not all worming treatments are effective against lungworm though, so visit your vet for advice.

“It’s important that dog owners remember to keep up with their dog’s treatment every month. Worming every three months, which is advised for other parasites, such as roundworm and tapeworm, will not be effective at preventing this parasite.

“The outcome for an affected dog in most cases is very good if it is diagnosed quickly and the dog receives prompt treatment. That’s why it is so important that dog owners, and even vets, are aware of the risk nationwide, even if their area hasn’t seen cases before.”

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