The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued advice to pet owners following an increase in the number of dogs being struck by a vomiting bug.
Around 474 reports had been recorded via a dedicated University of Liverpool veterinary surveillance database, (SAVSNET) in the week since it went live on 30 January 2020, with most cases being confined to England and Wales, with one in Northern Ireland.
Researchers looking into the cases report that affected dogs usually make a full recovery following prompt veterinary care to treat the symptoms. However, a small number of deaths have been reported, but it is currently not clear if these are linked to the condition under investigation.
Responding to the reports, BVA 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.”
Last month, SAVSNET at the University of Liverpool announced it is collecting data on a potential outbreak of prolific vomiting in UK dogs.
SAVSNET said that vets across the country, including Oxford, Burnley, Derbyshire and Liverpool, have reported acute onset prolific vomiting, which it defines as five or more episodes in a 12-hour period.
