The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued advice for worried dog owners after widespread reports of "prolific vomiting in dogs".
Vets have seen a spike in the number of cases of "acute gastroenteritis" across the UK, with dogs struck down by a vomiting bug.
The symptoms include more frequent vomiting than is usually seen in canine gastroenteritis cases, as well as "diarrhoea, anorexia and lethargy".
Over 550 similar cases have been reported via a dedicated University of Liverpool veterinary surveillance database, which went live on 30 January - most cases are confined to England and Wales, with one in Northern Ireland.
Researchers say that dogs usually make a full recovery but that a small number have died. However, the association insist that it is currently unclear if these are linked to the condition.
The news comes after a West Lothian vet warned about the spread of a life-threatening vomiting and diarrhoea virus - - affecting dogs, earlier this week.
Responding to the reports, British Veterinary Association President Daniella Dos Santos said: "We are aware of a spike in cases of prolific vomiting in dogs being reported by vets in several parts of the country.
"While pet owners are understandably worried, the cases may be part of a normal increase in gastroenteritis that vets usually see during the colder months.
“Our advice to owners is to call their local vet for advice in the first instance if their dog shows any of these symptoms. If your dog is ill, we’d encourage minimising contact with other dogs in the vicinity until veterinary advice has been sought.
“BVA is also asking vets to report any cases and controls via a questionnaire on the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) website, to help researchers build a clearer picture of the outbreak and to investigate if the spike is part of normal seasonal variation or if a specific virus or bacteria is in play.”
