Autumn has suddenly arrived and with it the colder weather. It is at this time of year (between August and November) that a mystery illness affects dogs which have been walked in woodland areas. It was reported for the first time in 2009 and is called Seasonal Canine Illness. The cause has yet to be found; tests have ruled out man made poisons but investigations are ongoing. The symptoms of the illness appear within 24-72 hours of your dog having been walked in a woodland area and can be life threatening without immediate veterinary treatment. The main signs to watch out for are vomiting and diarrhoea (which can be watery or even bloody) and lethargy. Other signs are pain in the tummy (or abdomen), loss of appetite and fever. If your dog shows any of these signs after being walked in woodlands then contact your vet immediately for treatment. When this illness first emerged there were reports of fatalities but thankfully with more public awareness and prompt veterinary treatment (intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics) there have been less dogs succumbing to this illness and dogs often recover within 7- 10 days with treatment.
Although cases have been reported in East Anglia, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire it has been reported in dogs from other areas and it is important to remain vigilant having walked your dogs in woodland areas. The Animal Health Trust is investigating this illness in 5 sites and dog walkers can fill in questionnaires if they have walked in these areas to help with ongoing investigations.
