Dog owners have been issued an urgent warning about letting their pets spend time on beaches after a number of pooches have fallen seriously ill.
Speaking on ITV's This Morning last Friday veterinary broadcaster Dr Scott Miller discussed reports that dogs were becoming unwell and in some cases dying.
On January 22, Newcastle's Chronicle Live reported that many dogs had fallen ill after trips to the beach in the area, although it doesn't seem that it is only pooches from the North East being affected.
Looking south, down the east coast to Middlesborough, Teeside Live reported that dogs in Redcar and Whitby have been falling ill after trips to the seaside.
Reports are now coming in that dogs across the country including Humberside, Devon, Cornwall, the south coast and London are all falling ill, although the cases further inland haven't yet been linked to those in the north.
Has your dog recently been ill after a trip to the beach? Let us know in the comments below
What is the mystery illness?
Very little is known about what is making the dogs unwell, with Dr Scott encouraging people "not to panic yet" while further research is conducted - he said the first case appeared on New Year's Eve.
He also said that pet owners shouldn't stop taking their dogs to the beach but suggested visiting at quieter times in case it was a virus being transmitted.
Symptoms to be aware of
Speaking to Yorkshire Live, Brogan Proud, a veterinary nurse who runs Yorkshire Coast Pet Care, said: "I work within several practices up and down the North East coast and we have recently been inundated with dogs coming off the beaches with vomiting and diarrhoea.
"Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any correlation other than contact with the beach, so maybe ensure they don’t eat anything on the beach and wash them off if they’ve been to the beach in case it is a toxin or similar."
Unlike Dr Scott, she advises pet owners keep their dogs clear of the coastline for now.
"Personally until the local authorities have got to the bottom of it I would not recommend taking your pets on the beach for the foreseeable future," she added.
"I have been in touch with governing bodies and they are currently looking into it.
"If your dog is showing symptoms please make the local authorities aware as well as seeking veterinary attention should your pet need it.”
Teesside Live reports some dogs are coming down with pneumonia.
How many cases have there been so far?
Yorkshire Live reports more than 150 dogs in Yorkshire had fallen ill after a walk on the beach. However, when speaking on This Morning, Dr Scott said there had now been "a few hundred" cases reported across the country.
What is causing mystery illness?
An investigation by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs has not not released any information about what might be causing the spate of illnesses or why it is happening.
Brogan Proud added to Yorkshire Live: "I wouldn’t be surprised to see pets catching this just being near the beach, ie. the lines or cliffs, it's hard to avoid all these places. It's more about being careful and vigilant with your pets.
"It's currently unknown what it is and what is causing it - if it comes from the dogs eating stuff on the beaches or going into the water."
