Urgent dog warning over hidden danger lurking in gardens as vet urges owners to watch out for key signs
DOG owners have been issued an urgent warning by vets over a hidden danger lurking in gardens.
While it’s natural for our furry friends to spend time outdoors, a parasite found in UK gardens could pose a major threat.
Known as lungworm, the results could be lethal for your pet if left untreated.
Dogs get lungworm from eating snails and slugs or coming into contact with foxes.
Lungworms are short worms that live in the heart chambers of animals, and in the artery that connects the heart to the lungs, according to Vets4Pets.
Dogs can ingest lungworm after eating grass or drinking water from puddles or outdoor water bowls.
Lungworms are reproduced by creating eggs, which hatch into larvae. The larvae are coughed up from the dog’s lungs and swallowed.
It is then passed out in the dog’s faeces and picked up by slugs and snails – hence re-starting the cycle.
An expert told the Daily Record: “Not only can these creatures do damage to the vegetation in your garden, but they can also carry lungworm, which is a parasite that lives in the blood vessels of the lungs and heart.
“If left undiagnosed or untreated, then lungworm can prove to be fatal, so do not hesitate to contact your vet if you suspect your dog has come into contact with a slug or a snail.”
Common signs of the disease include coughing and breathing problems.
But symptoms can also include weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness, blood clotting or excessive bleeding from small wounds and changes in behaviour.
If a dog shows any of these, vets advise owners to bring their pets in as soon as possible.
In order to give a canine the best chance at recovery treatment needs to be given as quickly as possible.
Dogs with the parasite can become very sick, and nine per cent of those infected will die, according to Vets4Pets.
However, a blood test is available to check whether a pet has the parasite, in addition to treatment.
While it is difficult to stop a dog from being exposed to lungworm due to the vast number of slugs and snails in British gardens, there are ways to prevent the health issue.
First, pet owners can undertake regular deworming treatments to prevent parasites and remove worms from the system.
Picking up your dog’s poop regularly will also help to reduce the spread of lungworm as well.
It is also recommended to keep dog toys inside when possible and regularly change the water in outdoor bowls to minimise a pet’s contact with the parasite.
It comes after a mum was left devastated when her dog passed away after an innocent run round the garden.
Tracey King, 50, from Medway, Kent, was left heartbroken as she saw her pet Chihuahua Ivy take her last breath.
The mum-of-four has been left utterly horrified by the ordeal and wants to warn others to check their garden for a common creature.
She exclusively told Fabulous that her family pup, who had just had a litter of three puppies, had died because she had swallowed a slug.
The warning signs your dog has swallowed a slug
Leading animal charity, PDSA, shared how to spot and prevent dogs swallowing slugs with Vet, Lynne James
- What are the warning signs a dog has swallowed a slug?
In most cases, dogs will show absolutely no signs that they have swallowed a slug, but if the slug carries lungworm, symptoms may develop a few weeks later.
The symptoms of lungworm can be difficult to spot because they are often vague and varied.
Symptoms tend to differ depending on how many worms your dog has inside them and which organs they reach.
Common symptoms to look out for include regular coughing, breathing problems, weight loss, unexplained bruising and bleeding, seizures, collapse and even blindness.
If you spot any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately who will be able to advise on the best cause of action.
- 2. What is the treatment?
Treatment for lungworm depends on how severe your dog’s infection is and what symptoms they have.
Your vet will kill the lungworm with a deworming product and your pet will be carefully monitored during this process.
Mild lungworm infections often only require lungworm treatment and medication to go home with, but if your dog is seriously ill, they may need intensive care in the veterinary hospital.
- 3. How to prevent lungworm?
Preventing lungworm is much easier than treating it – just make sure your dog’s regular de-worming products include lungworm protection.
It’s best to speak with your vet, who will be able to prescribe the best lungworm protection for your dog.
Preventing your dog from actually eating slugs entirely is pretty much impossible, as small ones are often swallowed accidentally when eating grass or drinking, so regular preventive deworming treatments are essential, especially in high risk areas.