British dog owners are being warned about an outbreak of animal disease caused by the babesia canis parasite (also known as the brown dog tick).
Better known in Europe and the USA, the brown dog tick is adapted to warmer climate where it affects shelters and greyhound kennels, but has recently been diagnosed in Harlow, Essex where two dogs have sadly died and three have needed blood transfusions after contracting the disease.
Companies, such as Bayer Animal Health, have previously warned about the affects of ticks and encouraged dog owners to be tick aware, however according to the BBC, experts say that it will be “impossible to stop the spread of the disease” carried by the parasite and concerns has grown over it spreading across the UK.
Two government agencies are now investigating the outbreak: the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Public Health England.
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