Dog owners across Essex are being warned to check for symptoms of a deadly infection.

Dozens of cases of lungworm have been reported across the county, with 13 cases confirmed within Epping Forest.

The number include four in Epping, six in Buckhurst Hill, three in High Beach three and one in Waltham Abbey.

Further afield, areas in and around Harlow, Chelmsford, Woodford Green, Colchester, Basildon and Southend have been highlighted by Vets4Pets.

Lungworm can be fatal to dogs - nine per cent of infected canines will die from contracting the parasite if they are not diagnosed or treated in time.

Company Bayer has set up a lungworm map monitoring cases and showing how much of a concern the disease is in any specific area around the country.

According to Vets4Pets, infected dogs and foxes spread the parasite into the environment via lungworm larvae released in their faeces.

Slugs and snails then ingest the larvae while feeding which can infect dogs and foxes if they swallow the infected creatures.

Symptoms for lungworm include: coughing, changes in breathing or struggling to breathe, going off food, upset stomach with vomiting and/or diarrhoea, weight loss, tiredness, unexplained or excessive bruising, pale gums and bleeding

Regular worming treatments, picking up your dog’s faeces quickly,removing toys and bowls from the garden overnight and changing the water in water bowls frequently can help limit the disease from developing.

More information can be found on the Vets4Pets website and you can check the map at mypetandi.bayer.com/uk/lungworm-map/