The family described their heartache because they believed their beloved dog had died after being exposed to rats “taking over the streets.”
Coco, the petite Yorkshire Terrier, suddenly fell ill over the Easter weekend after becoming “very quiet” and having no appetite. Her family was forced to keep her hydrated with a syringe before she suddenly got worse on Easter Monday.
Pauline Robertson of Greenway in Paige Moss said she was cuddling her favorite dog when Coco instantly “caught up” before getting what looked like a seizure. When she was rushed to the vets, they received the bad news that the seven-year-old was thought to have leptospirosis.
READ MORE:A woman “won’t come out” after a large rat was found stranded in a trash can near her front door
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause bleeding, organ failure and brain swelling and can be potentially fatal to dogs and humans. Infected dogs can die within 48 hours if left untreated.
This led to Coco’s kidney and liver failure, and despite all efforts to get her to take antibiotics, she unfortunately died. Pauline now believes the disease is caused by rats in the area that “take over the streets.”
Coco became “quiet” and did not want to eat or drink (Image: UGC)
She told ECHO: “The vet told us they could give her antibiotics, but it’s a fatal disease. I asked how she got this and they told me it was caused by rats.
“They thought she might have bitten a rat, but I don’t think she did. She was in the shed last week for a few nights and I had to keep pulling her out, but she had no cuts or anything. We were told that even if a rat had run through the flags and had little, she had licked him or encountered the disease from which she had caught him.
“The situation with the rats in Page Moss is absolutely disgusting. Rats get caught in the bins, jump on people. We don’t have grass, we have flags so that our garden is not overgrown.
“Our neighbors are suffering from rats in their house and everyone is writing on Facebook about the situation. But the buckets are not emptied as regularly as before. This has been going on for years.
Coco died on Easter Monday (Image: UGC)
“People are cleaning their gardens as best they can, there is no garbage on the nearby fields. We only had tools in our shed, but she kept coming in. People are really trying, but something needs to be done.
“You feel so dirty. These rats are walking and walking, they just don’t care.”
Coco was ill for two days when her symptoms began. Symptoms in pets may include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, refusal to eat, and stiffness.
Pauline added that the death came as a “shock” to the whole family, as they believed she would “go home with antibiotics”. She added: “You can’t take your dog anywhere because there are rats everywhere. All the dog has to do is sniff or lick and he may get this disease. This is awful.
“The vet picked her up and went to give her antibiotics, but they came back through the door to tell us she had another seizure and died. Other people send notes that their dogs have died from this disease. Something really needs to be done. “
A spokesman for Knowsley’s council said: “We are not aware of the details of this particular case or of any reported leptospirosis incidents in Knowsley, but we express our sincere condolences to this family for the loss of their much-loved pet.
“Although rats can transmit this bacterium, there are a number of ways in which dogs can become infected with leptospirosis, including from other infected dogs, from licking or sniffing the ground where an infected dog has urinated, from the urine of other infected animals ( cows, pigs or rodents) or from moist land or rivers and lakes where bacteria can live. Fortunately, this infection is relatively rare in this country and protection against it is offered through routine vaccinations and reinforcement by veterinarians.
“We continue to work with partners, residents, businesses and landlords to deal with all kinds of rat infestations at Page Moss. This includes sewage bait, pest control and, rather, a full day of action specifically targeted at the area, identifying problems that may be contributing to problems and offering advice to residents on prevention.
“Despite these best efforts, we are aware that there are still some parties that do not follow the council’s advice and continue to allow overgrown or poorly maintained areas to offer shelter for rodents. This creates problems for the wider neighborhood. We are working proactively to address this as a priority and these efforts with partners, residents and businesses will continue. “
Read more related articles Read more related articles
Add Comment