Hi all, just received the contents below in an email. Please be aware of the risks and have a chat with your vet if you are worried. I checked by postcode and found that 50 cases have been reported in my area recently ..... "Vets across the UK have reported more than 150 cases of the potentially fatal lungworm parasite in dogs since February. Data from Bayer’s Act Against Lungworm campaign has shown that the parasite is currently active throughout much of the UK, with cases reported as far as Paisley in Scotland, across the North and Wales, the South East and in the far South West. Sadly, there have been at least nine deaths reported so far in 2017 due to lungworm, including areas such as Salisbury, Crawley, Ipswich, and Essex. Here is everything you need to know about the parasite. What is lungworm? Slugs and snails can carry the hidden killer lungworm parasite which can cause serious health problems in dogs and be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. Why is it spreading? Recent mild winters have contributed to a high population of slugs and snails. Lungworm can also be carried by foxes, which have helped increase the geographic distribution of the parasite. Not all worming treatments prevent dogs from carrying, and potentially spreading, the parasite. Is lungworm in your area? You can check the reported cases in your area by visiting: https://www.lungworm.co.uk/lungworm-map/ What can I do about it? All dogs are at risk of contracting lungworm, so it is important that every owner is aware. The https://www.lungworm.co.uk website is a great source of information. Speak to your vet Lungworm treatment is only available on prescription, and your vet will be able to advise you on the specific risk to your pet. Review your parasite treatment Not all worming treatments protect against lungworm. For complete protection, and to prevent your dog from spreading the parasite, treatment with a suitable product must be administered monthly. Thank you for helping to act against lungworm."
Good warning. The vets doing Molly's spay next week told us to be sure she was treated for lung worm monthly for at least 3 months prior to the spay. I think I'll keep that up for good now.
