A VET has issued an pressing Bank Holiday warning to canine house owners over a little-known moist climate threat which may kill your pet.
Wind and rain will washout the UK this weekend with yellow warnings for thunderstorms throughout Scotland.
The situations have sparked issues of lungworm – a lethal parasitic an infection.
Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.commentioned that circumstances of lungworm are prone to be extra prevalent in dogs this yr.
With additional rain forecast, slugs and snails can be extra outstanding over the approaching weeks.
Sean mentioned: “Lungworm is a sort of parasitic worm that’s present in slugs and snails that may infect dogs and journey round their physique by blood vessels.
“Once they’ve entered the physique and migrated by the tissues, they will trigger critical hurt to your canine’s coronary heart and lungs, in addition to harm to different areas of the physique.
“This is as a result of the larvae launch a chemical that stops the blood from clotting once they enter your canine’s blood vessels, leaving them susceptible to inside bleeding that if left untreated or undiagnosed may show to be deadly.”
He added: “Our dogs are curious creatures, and infrequently love to smell and discover with regards to wildlife, whether or not that be within the backyard or when out on a walk, which means that they will develop into contaminated with the lungworm parasite if they arrive into contact with slugs and snails when rooting round in shrubbery.”
While lungworm will be handled, preventative measures are suggested because the parasite can nonetheless be deadly.
If your canine is recognized with lungworm, remedy is definitely accessible from vets and, as soon as handled, most dogs make a full restoration when it’s caught early.
What are the signs of lungworm?
Lungworm infections could make themselves recognized through quite a few signs, together with:
- Breathing issues and coughing
- General illness
- Behavioural change
- Poor blood clotting
- Nose bleeds
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Seizures
