27/04/2026
🐌 Lungworm Awareness – Protect Your Dog 🐶
At Hackney Vets, we want to remind all dog owners about the dangers of lungworm — a potentially serious parasite that can affect dogs of all ages.
What is lungworm?
Lungworm is a parasite that dogs can pick up by eating or licking slugs or snails, or even from toys, bowls, or grass that slugs and snails have crawled over. This means dogs don’t have to actually eat a slug or snail to become infected.
Signs to watch for include:
🔹 Coughing
🔹 Breathing difficulties
🔹 Tiring easily
🔹 Poor appetite
🔹 Vomiting or diarrhoea
🔹 Unexplained bleeding (such as nosebleeds or bleeding gums)
🔹 Changes in behaviour
Symptoms can vary and may become severe if left untreated, so it’s important to act quickly if you notice anything unusual.
Why prevention is so important
Lungworm cases are becoming more common across the UK, especially in urban areas. The good news is that regular preventative treatments prescribed by your vet can protect your dog and are much safer than treating an established infection.
How you can help reduce the risk:
✔️ Keep up to date with your dog’s parasite prevention
✔️ Avoid leaving toys and water bowls outside overnight
✔️ Discourage dogs from eating slugs or snails
✔️ Regularly clean outdoor water bowls
If you’re unsure whether your dog is protected against lungworm, or if you’d like advice on the best preventative treatment, please contact Hackney Vets — our team will be happy to help.
🐾 Prevention is simple — treatment can be serious. Keep your dog protected all year round.
