Reports of a mystery illness affecting dogs started in 2009 and this year it appears to be striking again.
It seems that some of our canine friends are contracting a nasty stomach bug and the humans think it may have something to do with being walked in woodland between August and November. They are calling it Seasonal Canine Illness or SCI.
In the woods
Dogs love going for walks at this time of year in the woods, as the leaves crunch under our feet and there are lots of interesting sniffs, but it seems something nasty may be lurking!
We have not heard anything about this in Cumbria, but our Grandma lives in Lancaster and there are reports that dogs in the Lancaster and Morecambe areas are being affected.
Since the beginning of September 2011, the Animals Health Trust have been informed that cases have reoccurred at all of their study sites, along with other sites in Nottinghamshire and Suffolk.
What to look for
This illness can appear only hours after being walked and has claimed the lives of several of our four legged friends, but at the moment nobody knows what the cause is.
SCI can affect any size, shape or sex of dog and it causes us to become very ill, very quickly. The most common clinical signs are sickness, diarrhoea and lethargy,
If you suspect your dog is showing symptoms of SCI then it is important that you contact your vet immediately as prompt treatment is vital.
Animals Health Trust
The Animals health Trust are doing everything they can but they need your human’s help;
Their website lists the known reported areas, but there could be more!
A short video has been prepared by the AHT to help your human understand what to look for and what to do.
There is also a short questionnaire which focuses on certain areas, so if you go for a walk in these places, the AHT need to know in order to track down this awful disease. The investigation has focused on four sites – Sandringham Estate and Thetford Forest in Norfolk and Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.
We don’t want our owners to panic, as most of the doggies that become ill do recover, but in some cases Seasonal Canine Illness can be fatal.
More information
Animals Health Trust – Find out more about this mystery illness and how you can help
Reported SCI areas – Animals Health Trust list of current know locations of Seasonal Canine Illness
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