AN URGENT warning for pet owners has been issued as a mystery dog illness is "spreading like wildlife."

Hundreds of dogs started falling ill after walking on the beach last week – with more pups expected to get sick in the coming days.

Owners noticed their pups became ill after walking along the coast in North Yorkshire.

Vet practices in the region shared warnings on Facebook, urging owners to avoid beaches in Scarborough and Saltburn.

But now owners in towns and cities, including Hebden Bridge, York, and Sheffield, have reported similar bug symptoms in their dogs.

One person from Sheffield posted saying that there was a "nasty bug doing the rounds that will knock your dog off its feet".

She added that the virus is "spreading like wildfire and is in most areas" and had caused her dog to vomit and have diarrhoea.

Emily Storey, from York, said her cockapoo Loki became ill last week – and the pup is "taking longer than normal to recover."

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She said that she had taken him on walks around Copmanthorpe and discovered that other dogs in the area had fallen ill with a similar illness.

Emily was also told by vets that it "seems to be worse than usual".

Another dog owner in Leeds said she believes the virus came from the coast but has now spread from dog to dog in the city, after her pup became ill.

And posting on social media, a woman from Hebden Bridge said: "The dog sickness bug is spreading here like wildfire. My dog came down it on Thursday and I had only taken her to school and back!

"The vet said every other dog he has seen has this bug."

One of the vets at the Minster Veterinary Practice played down the idea that a new illness was affecting canines – saying that she didn't think there was a new illness in York.

She said: "We often, unfortunately, get waves of unwell pets with vomiting and diarrhoea around this time of year, just as in the summer we often get cases of kennel cough.

"I did mention to a client at Willow Grove that I had seen a few cases of vomiting and diarrhoea, but this can be a normal occurrence this time of year.

"Any cases that have had to be hospitalised due to vomiting and diarrhoea have responded to supportive care.

"My main advice to any pet owners would be that if your pet is unwell then seek veterinary attention, if we have a mild stomach upset then a bland diet is little and often is a good idea.

"Please be reassured that if we felt that there was something pet owners should avoid or minimise to stop their pet becoming generally unwell then we would advise of this."

This comes after veterinary nurse Brogan Proud said practices across the North East coast have been "inundated" with calls last week from concerned locals about their poorly pets.

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A large number of pets have suddenly begun suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea after having a walk on the beach.

But owners have been left baffled by their pooches' sudden symptoms as the cause of their sickness has not yet been established.

The veterinary nurse, who runs the mobile Yorkshire Coast Pet Care which visits several practices, advised people to keep their beloved dogs away from the sands for the time being.

Brogan explained reports of vomiting and diarrhoea have been an ongoing problem, but numbers have skyrocketed in recent weeks.

Despite reassuring owners, she is unaware of any dog's dying after contracting the mystery illness, the vet recommended calling off coastal walks for the meantime.

She advised pet owners to make sure their furry friends don't eat anything on the beach to keep them fit and well.

Brogan also suggested washing them off thoroughly if they have wandered on the sands in case the cause of the ailment is a toxin or something similar.

"Personally until the local authorities have got to the bottom of it I would not recommend taking your pets on the beach for the foreseeable future," she said.

"I have been in touch with governing bodies and they are currently looking into it.

"If your dog is showing symptoms please make the local authorities aware as well as seeking veterinary attention should your pet need it."

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