Vets in the area are warning owners to be vigilant after they have noticed a rise in the number of cases of campylobacter, a bacteria that can cause chronic diarrhoea in both dogs and humans.

The Gatehouse Vet centre in Borras Park Road, Borras, reported treating 10 cases of the disease last month compared to a usual one or two cases a year.

The centre contacted the Evening Leader to make sure that dog owners are made aware of the symptoms and to advise them to seek treatment immediately.

Vet Dennis Callanan said the symptoms were recurrent diarrhoea that would initially respond to treatment but would return.

He said: "Dogs don't get particularly unwell with it. There is no vomiting but it does keep returning.

"It does pose a potential risk to human beings who share lives with dogs.

"It can be diagnosed by sending a sample away for tests and it will need a six week course of antibiotics to treat it".

Mr Callanan added that it was unusual to see so many cases. He said: "We don't know where they are getting it from. The dogs are not from one particular area so we are at a loss to know why.

"However, if a dog has been treated twice for recurrent diaorrhoea I would consider asking for tests to be done at their local vets and owners should contact their GPs if they feel they have similar symptoms."