Seasonal Canine Illness is a rare but potentially serious condition that can affect dogs after they have been on a woodland walk – and it’s most common in November
November brings heightened danger for dogs, with reported cases of Seasonal Canine Illness rising sharply during this period.
Whilst the condition remains relatively uncommon, it can have serious consequences for our canine companions. The majority of incidents occur between August and November, typically following walks through woodland areas.
Dr Aimee Warner, resident veterinarian at Waggel, explains: “Seasonal Canine Illness tends to affect dogs within 24 to 72 hours of woodland walks, often in damp areas with heavy leaf litter, but the exact cause has not been definitively identified. What we do know is that it can escalate quickly and that prompt veterinary treatment greatly improves the chances of a full recovery.
“The speed at which symptoms develop is what concerns us most,” Dr Warner notes. “Dogs can seem perfectly fine after their walk and then deteriorate within hours.”
Symptoms of Seasonal Canine Illness:
- Vomiting, often persistent and severe
- Diarrhoea, which may contain blood
- Marked lethargy and weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Fever, and sometimes muscle tremors
Dr Warner has emphasised that, in contrast to many minor stomach upsets which resolve naturally, Seasonal Canine Illness can prove fatal without intervention. Any dog displaying these warning signs requires same-day veterinary assessment.
She added: “With early fluids and supportive care, most dogs recover well, and we have seen survival rates improve over the past decade.”
How to reduce the risk during autumnal walks
The precise trigger for Seasonal Canine Illness hasn’t been definitively established, though there’s a clear correlation with wooded settings and the autumn season. Harvest mites have been frequently discovered on dogs suffering from this illness, although their role in causing the condition has not been confirmed.
Dr Warner recommends:
- Avoid areas with dense leaf litter and standing water where possible.
- Keeping dogs on paths rather than allowing them to forage through thick undergrowth.
- Using veterinary-prescribed treatments to reduce the risk of harvest mite infestation and seek veterinary advice if you find mites in your dog.
- Washing or wiping paws and legs after woodland walks.
- Keeping dogs well hydrated before and after exercise.
- Monitor your dog closely for 72 hours following any woodland activity.
- Seeking immediate veterinary care if any vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or other concerning signs appear.
Dr Warner concludes: “Most dogs with an upset stomach after a walk will not have Seasonal Canine Illness.
“However, because the early signs look very similar, we would always rather see a dog early and rule SCI out than wait and risk severe dehydration or shock. The difference between treatment started within hours versus waiting until the next day can be significant.”