Dog owners warned about deadly new disease

Dog owners are being warned about a deadly disease that has entered the country and already left three animals fighting for their lives.

Babesiosis is a rare and often fatal disease which causes animals to experience lethargy, weakness, pale gums, red/brown urine and fever.

It is spread by infected ticks which bite animals and three dogs in Harlow, Essex, are believed to be the first in the UK to have contracted the disease.

Clive Swainsbury is practice partner at Forest Veterinary Centre group in Eastwick, Essex, which has treated the dogs.

Mishka, a three-year-old Husky bitch, was given just a one per cent chance of survival after contracting the disease in October last year.

Her owners Dean Unwin, 52, and Lisa Hall, 42, were "inconsolable" when they were told she might have to be put down.

Mr Unwin, a carpet fitter, said the problems started on October 20 last year when Mishka suddenly became very lethargic.

Mr Unwin and Ms Hall, a carer in an old people's home, took her to the vets where she had an emergency hysterectomy two days later.

Here's a report by Liz Summers