Devastated dog owners say their beloved pet fell victim to a mysterious virus which is affecting canines across the country.
Four-and-a-half-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Duke was a "lovely" pup who was "everybody's best friend" and a popular visitor to Consett's Duke of Wellington pub, which his owner Alan Marshall runs.
On January 9, owner Julie Cox took Duke for an evening walk around Hownsgill Industrial estate. Everything seemed fine, but shortly afterwards the previously healthy pet became seriously ill.
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Julie said: "It was at ten past 11, he woke me up wanting to go out, and I thought it was a bit strange because he always goes for a long walk in the morning and at night. I took him out and he had diarrhea. I went back to bed after an hour and he woke me up again, it went on like this about every hour until the morning. He didn't want his breakfast and Duke normally really ravishes his food.
"He managed about a 10-minute walk and when we got back as soon as I took his lead off he vomited. My daughter, Rebecca, who is training to be a paramedic, said 'mam, this is not normal, it's not right'. He was foaming at the mouth and he vomited about four times in ten minutes.
"I rang the vets and they told me to bring him up straight away. As we were taking him to the vets he became really lethargic."
Vets ran tests and Duke's organs seemed to be ok, so they gave him medication and told Julie and Alan to bring him back after 24 hours. But when they got him home they realised he was bleeding from his behind.
The team at Westway Vets in Consett advised them go to the firm's Newcastle base to be treated overnight. But as they arrived at the West Road practice, Duke suffered a heart attack. Vets did their best to save him, but despite managing to stabilise him, he crashed again, and they were forced to deliver tragic news to Alan and Julie.
The pair decided to share their story in the hopes of warning other dog lovers about the disease.
Alan said: "They told us that this virus is going round and they don't know what to do to treat it. The vets did everything possible, they were so upset that they couldn't help.
"We just don't want other people to go through this, you'd got to be careful when you take them for walks, of course, dogs are dogs, but maybe clean their paws whenever you get home."
Julie added: "Duke was perfect. He wagged his tail all the time, he was happy all the time, he was as fit as a fiddle, we made sure we kept him healthy and fit. All the people who came into the pub loved him, he used to sit on people's laps and watch what was going on. He was my best friend.
"If we could just get the message out to people that there is this unknown virus out there and to be careful until it comes out exactly what it us."
British Veterinary Association President Justine Shotton said last week the illness was likely to be a virus, which results in "gastroenteritis-like symptoms" (diarrhea and vomiting). Although many cases are more mild, there is a risk of serious illness, as happened to Duke. Dog owners are advised to contact their vets if they spot any of these symptoms.
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