Urgent Bank Holiday warning to dog owners over little-known wet weather risk which could kill your pet
A VET has issued an urgent Bank Holiday warning to dog owners over a little-known wet weather risk which could kill your pet.
Wind and rain will washout the UK this weekend with yellow warnings for thunderstorms across Scotland.
The conditions have sparked concerns of lungworm - a deadly parasitic infection.
Sean McCormack, head vet at , said that cases of lungworm are likely to be more prevalent in dogs this year.
With further rain forecast, slugs and snails will be more prominent over the coming weeks.
Sean said: "Lungworm is a type of parasitic worm that is found in slugs and snails that can infect dogs and travel around their body through blood vessels.
"Once they have entered the body and migrated through the tissues, they can cause serious harm to your canine's heart and lungs, as well as damage to other areas of the body.
"This is because the larvae release a chemical that stops the blood from clotting when they enter your dog's blood vessels, leaving them at risk of internal bleeding that if left untreated or undiagnosed could prove to be fatal."
He added: "Our dogs are curious creatures, and often love to sniff and explore when it comes to wildlife, whether that be in the garden or when out on a walk, meaning that they can become infected with the lungworm parasite if they come into contact with slugs and snails when rooting around in shrubbery."
While lungworm can be treated, preventative measures are advised as the parasite can still be fatal.
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If your dog is diagnosed with lungworm, treatment is easily available from vets and, once treated, most dogs make a full recovery when it is caught early.
What are the symptoms of lungworm?
Lungworm infections can make themselves known via a number of symptoms, including:
- Breathing problems and coughing
- General sickness
- Behavioural change
- Poor blood clotting
- Nose bleeds
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Seizures