Urgent warning to pet owners over 'hidden' parasites at beauty spot near Leeds
Here is the hidden danger Yorkshire pet owners need to look out for 🐱🐶
Pet owners have been warned to look out for dangerous parasites at a beauty spot near Leeds.
A leading Yorkshire vet has issued an urgent warning to local pet owners over a surge in "near-invisible" seasonal parasites lurking in gardens, parks, and popular walking spots.
Dr Charlotte Inness, founder of Yorkshire-based online veterinary pharmacy VetMedi, is encouraging cat and dog owners to watch out for harvest mites and lungworm larvae if near Ilkley Moor, the Yorkshire Dales, and other hiking areas.
These two parasites can lead to severe respiratory issues or fatal blood clotting in dogs and cats when they target areas with thin skin such as paws, groins, and ears.
While fleas and ticks are familiar summer hazards, Dr Inness warns that harvest mites and lungworm larvae are dangerously underestimated because they are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.
Dr Inness said: “Once attached, these larvae inject specialised digestive enzymes that literally liquefy the pet's skin cells to feed on them.
“This triggers a frantic, non-stop itch that can keep pets awake all night.”
Beyond the intense irritation, Dr Inness also warned that harvest mites are linked to Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) - a rare but severe condition peaking between September and October that causes rapid lethargy and sickness within 24 to 72 hours.
Owners might notice a mild bout of vomiting or diarrhoea, but the dog quickly becomes far weaker and more lethargic than a simple stomach bug would account for.
Dr Inness, who has over 10 years experience in the veterinary field, has also encouraged pet owners to be cautious of lungworm, a potentially fatal parasite hosted by common garden slugs and snails.
Dogs can contract lungworm directly by eating or accidentally crunching on infected slugs and snails, often while eating grass, rummaging in undergrowth, or chewing on garden toys.
Dr Inness said: "Licking dried slime trails left on outdoor water bowls, garden toys, or grass is enough to transmit the parasite.
“Unlike fleas, which cause immediate biting and scratching, lungworm can infect a dog for weeks or months without obvious signs."
Once swallowed, the larvae burrow through the gut wall and travel through the bloodstream to mature inside the dog's heart and lungs.
Dr Inness highlighted that early symptoms of this however can be easily missed.
“An infected dog might tire quickly on walks or develop a minor cough. In severe cases, it prevents blood from clotting properly, causing unexplained bruising, nosebleeds, or fatal internal bleeding,” Dr Inness said.
A parasite problem will also present “highly localised and much more frantic" compared to a seasonal allergy.
Many owners assume their off-the-shelf monthly worming tablets cover lungworm, but lungworm requires specific prescription-only preventatives - usually a monthly spot-on treatment or prescription tablet, so Dr Inness says it’s vital to double-check your routine with your vet.
To check if your dog or cat has been affected by parasites, carry out this 60-second routine at home:
- Use a dedicated tool: Slide a tick-twister or tick hook under the tick's body, as close to the skin's surface as possible.
- Twist, don't pull: Gently twist clockwise or counter-clockwise until the tick releases its grip.
- Avoid yanking: Pulling straight out can leave microscopic mouthparts embedded in the skin, leading to localised infections and painful abscesses.