Vet warns dog owners about lethal parasite

Thu, 28 Apr 2011

A vet from Doncaster is alerting dog owners of increasing reports in the diagnosis of a potentially fatal disease which is caused by a parasite carried by slugs and snails .

Rebecca Aldren, from the Vets4Pets surgery in Wheatley, is warning owners to be aware of an infection caused by the lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum. Dogs pick up the parasite by eating slugs and snails, drinking from puddles, or water bowls left outside, or even from toys left in the garden.

The parasite can cause breathing difficulties and general signs of being unwell including weight loss, reduced appetite and vomiting. It can also cause excessive bleeding from even minor cuts.

Ms Aldren said: "Once seen as a problem in isolated areas, lungworm has spread in the UK. Although dogs can become infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum at any time of year, the warm and damp conditions associated with the spring and autumn months do provide ideal breeding conditions for slugs and snails, thereby potentially increasing the risk of infection."

Link to this page

Copy and Paste the following HTML into your page.