A map has shown the places in the North East where lungworm cases have been reported.
Lungworm is a parasitical infection caused by a roundworm parasite called Angiostrongylus Vasorum (AV).
The parasite can be fatal to dogs, who can become infected after coming into contact with snails or slugs carrying the larvae.
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My Pet and I, an online site for pet owners, has now created an interactive map identifying lungworm cases in the UK.
The cases are broken down by area, with the number of reported cases shown in a particular postcode.
In the North East, a total of 16 cases of lungworm have been reported so far this year.
The majority of these were in County Durham and Teesside, with these areas accounting for 12 of the cases/
Northumberland had three reported cases, and South Shields had one.
Take a look below to see the postcodes where lungworm was reported this year.
NE66 2NZ: 1
NE61 3JN: 1
NE23 7RH: 1
NE34 7SG: 1
DL15 9HR: 2
DL14 7AD: 2
TS1 5QZ: 1
TS15 9JT: 1
DL3 7SQ: 1
DL 00: 2
TS23 4BJ: 1
TS1 5QZ: 1
TS9 5QA: 1
Lungworm starts out as larvae, which the dog, or sometimes a fox, comes into contact with.
The larvae then make their way to the heart and blood vessels of the lungs, where they develop into adult lungworms.
Unlike other diseases, lungworm is not passed directly from dog to dog, it is spread to the environment through the faeces of an infected animal.
The Kennel Club say lungworm is a chronic disease that can last months or even years, but symptoms are often vague, and can be easily confused with other illnesses.
The Club has outlined the following as symptoms of lungworm:
- Weight loss
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing (especially bringing up blood)
- Lethargy
- Poor blood clotting/persistent bleeding
- General sickness
- Circling
- Stomach and back pain
- Poor appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Behaviour changes (depression, being tired)
- Seizures
