A veterinary nurse has warned dog owners not to leave toys outside, as slugs and snails can leave lungworm larvae on them, posing a serious health risk to pets.
Veterinary nurse Jade issued the guidance in a TikTok post to her 268,400 followers, noting that lungworm is "spreading across the UK." She urged people to avoid leaving dog toys outside or to regularly clean them to prevent the parasite.
How dogs catch lungworm
Angiostrongylus vasorum, also known as lungworm, is a serious and potentially life-threatening parasite dogs can catch by eating snails or slugs. However, the vet explained that this is not the only way dogs can become infected.
"Dogs can get infected by accidentally directly eating snails or slugs or even frogs which are contaminated with lungworm but they don't just have to eat the snail or slug themselves," she said.
"They can also be eating grass that might have slugs or snails in there and you can't see it. Or even if slugs or snails have trailed over dog's toys that have been left out in the garden or in a water bowl left outside. They can leave the larvae of the lungworm in their slime."
Prevention and symptoms
The vet encouraged owners to keep their dog's toys indoors, wash them regularly, and ensure water bowls are kept clean and topped up with fresh water. She also advised speaking to a vet about preventative treatment.
She concluded: "Lungworm is spreading across the UK so please keep your dogs safe, make sure you speak to your vet to talk about what preventative treatment they're on and if they're covered against lungworm."
According to Blue Cross, symptoms of lungworm can include coughing, breathing problems, not wanting to exercise, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea, weight loss, nose bleeds, bleeding for longer from small cuts, and wobbliness or fits. If left untreated, lungworm can cause inflammation and, in severe cases, internal bleeding and organ failure. Owners who suspect their dog has lungworm should contact their vet immediately.
