A national survey of UK dog owners and veterinary surgeons shows the worrying trend that many UK dog owners can’t spot the risks of lungworm – a parasite that can cause severe illness and even death if left untreated.
The survey, which was shared by animal health company Elanco as part of April’s National Pet Month, also highlights that 77% of pet owners don’t know if their dog is protected against lungworm.
The UK-wide survey sought opinions from 500 pet owners and 100 veterinary surgeons in March 2023. The results showed that:
- Only 25% of pet owners worry about lungworm in their area in contrast with 50% of vets, who note this as a particular local concern.
- Only one in three dog owners are aware that lungworm can be potentially found everywhere across the UK, a startling fact given the rise in staycations and people travelling across the UK with their pets.
Lungworm is spreading
The survey highlighted that a third of veterinary surgeons have seen at least one lungworm related death in dogs in the last five years, and 87% of veterinary surgeons have seen at least one case of lungworm in their career.
Lungworm used to be found only in certain ‘hotspots’ in the UK, mainly in the South of England and Wales. However, study data shows that lungworm is spreading throughout much of the UK, and it is now also endemic in Central England, with an increasing number of cases being reported in Northern England and Scotland too.2 Regional case numbers can be checked at www.lungworm.co.uk, and these continue to rise, despite it being preventable with treatment.
Identifying the signs
For Phoebe Claydon, a dog owner living in Milton Keynes in South East England, unusual lethargy and an accidental fall from a sofa was the first sign that anything was amiss with one-year-old Gracie, a working Cocker Spaniel. The next day, Gracie woke with a swollen face and bruised, black skin resulting in an emergency dash to her regular veterinary practice.
Gracie was treated by local veterinary surgeon Kim Hart who moved to Milton Keynes in June 2022 from a practice in Bedford in East England. In this time, she has treated 3-4 serious cases of lungworm.
“Education is needed to make sure lungworm is covered with prescription treatment for those dogs at risk. Off-the-shelf medications will not be effective, and they can leave animals vulnerable to lungworm,” said Kim. “Pets could have lungworm for several months undetected and it is either detected by owners only when symptoms have become very severe, or if a secondary problem triggers a visit to a veterinary practice.”
Gracie is back to full health following treatment and has ‘more energy than ever’. “It could affect every single dog, so it would make sense that every single dog owner should know about lungworm.” says Phoebe. “I didn’t know lungworm could be fatal and if it had been left longer it might have been different. Luckily Gracie was treatable.”
Survey data1 shows that one in four dog owners do not recognise the symptoms of lungworm, which can include behavioural changes, low energy levels and unexpected bruising, as experienced by Gracie. One in five dog owners are unaware of how lungworm is transmitted through common activities such as eating grass, drinking from puddles or water bowls left outside, as well as eating slugs and snails.
Most dog owners are unsure as to whether their dogs are protected against lungworm with this survey demonstrating that only 35% of pet owners reported having spoken to someone at their veterinary practice about lungworm. Many pet owners mistakenly believe that their animals are covered by non prescription worming treatments. If you are unsure, visit your veterinary practice to speak with staff.
Three steps to protecting your pet
- Check your pet’s risk of lungworm and find out more at www.lungworm.co.uk
- 2. Know the symptoms of lungworm and check that your dog’s de-wormer includes lungworm
- 3. Speak with staff at your veterinary practice about how best to prevent lungworm and the risk factors in your area or places you may be travelling to