Dog owners are warned to remain vigilant as nearly 600 cases of a deadly pet disease have been recorded in the region.

There have been 593 reported cases of lungworm across the south east and at least 10 in Oxfordshire.

According to an interactive map that tracks registered cases of lungworm, there are cases in Banbury and the rural area around Chipping Norton which covers popular dog walking spots.

There are also reports of the disease in Abingdon and in the Wheatley and Watlington areas.

There are also three reported cases in Oxford city, and one in Waterperry.

Lungworm in dogs was once rare in the UK but is becoming more common with the overall prevalence of the disease in the fox population in the UK and Ireland now at 18.3 per cent.

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According to Medivet, lungworm is a type of parasitic worm but unlike other intestinal worms such as tapeworm and roundworm, adult lungworm travel around a dog's body and can damage their lungs and other major organs.

The larvae live in snails and slugs, as well as the faeces from infected dogs or foxes which is where the slugs and snails pick it up from.

When these are eaten, either intentionally or accidentally, the lungworm larvae are ingested into the dog’s digestive system.

The larvae can also be picked up from snail and slug slime, so any dog toys or bowls left outside can pose a risk.

Frogs can also become a host for the larvae.

Once inside the dog's body the adult lungworm then lay eggs which mature into more larvae which are subsequently coughed up, swallowed and exit the body via the dog’s faeces, thus starting the cycle again.

Many dogs won’t show signs of lungworm for some time, meaning it can go undiagnosed in many cases.

But symptoms include excessive bleeding, excessive bruising, coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhoea, weight loss, tiredness and depression, pale gums and seizures.

You can prevent your dog from being seriously harmed by a lungworm infection in the following ways.

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Be extra-vigilant when out walking with your dog to stop them from eating slugs, snails and faeces.

Always remember to pick up after your own dog and wash any toys and bowls that have been outside to reduce the risk of infection.

Puppies are renowned for eating anything they come across.

You should be especially careful during spells of wet weather when slugs and snails are frequent garden visitors - always ensure your puppy is supervised and fully up to date with their worming treatment. 

Finally, prevention is better than treatment. Using effective prevention as part of ongoing parasite treatment is the best way to protect your dog. 

Speak to your vet about the best option and for more information about high-risk areas.

Lungworm cannot be transmitted from animals to humans.