Wednesday, January 05, 2011 » 07:00am

Animal health experts are investigating reports of a serious canine disease found at Queen Elizabeth II’s Sandringham Estate, where the royal family gathers each Christmas.

The disease, called ‘seasonal canine illness’, has not affected the queen’s beloved Corgi pets, but 37 dogs walked by members of the public on open areas of the 8000-hectare estate in rural Norfolk have become gravely ill, with six deaths reported.

The investigation started in September but no conclusive answers have been found. The unusual malady has struck dogs in other parts of England although the majority of known cases are in the Sandringham area.

Doctor Richard Newton, a vet who coordinates the Animal Health Trust inquiry, said pinpointing the cause is not an easy task.

‘We’re on a fishing expedition,’ he said. Dog owners who walked their pets in the affected areas are being asked to fill out questionnaires so vets can look for indications that the animals that became ill did something in common, like swimming, he said.

He said 54 dogs are known to have gotten sick in woodlands in several parts of England.

Once the inquiry into the illness on the queen’s estate began, he said, researchers found out there had been a similar cluster of diseases reported in Nottinghamshire the year before. The disease seems to begin in late summer and then peak in September before fading, he said.

Signs have been posted urging dog owners who take their pets to Sandringham Estate to keep their dogs on leashes as a precaution to prevent the disease, which is marked by the sudden onset of symptoms including severe vomiting, diarrhoea and a high fever.

The Animal Health Trust warns on its website that rapid dehydration poses a serious threat and advises owners to seek urgent help. Most dogs will recover within 10 days, but those with ‘severe cases’ may die if they are not treated quickly, the health group says.

Ryan O’Meara, chief editor of K9 Magazine, said the disease poses a serious threat because it is capable of killing a dog so quickly.

‘It’s very rare to have a disease potent enough to cause people to lose dogs,’ he said.

A number of possible causes are being studied including parvovirus infection, toxic mushrooms, mites, and woodland ants. Other potential explanations include Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks or blue-green algae.

O’Meara believes blue-green algae, found in standing water, is the culprit. He said the algae can be highly toxic to some dogs and is found in the areas where the illness has turned up.

It is easy for a dog to ingest the algae without his owner knowing if he runs through a puddle containing it and then licks his paws afterward, he said.

‘If I am walking my dogs and I know there is blue green algae in an area, I stop straight away because I’ve seen a dog that’s ingested it and seen how fast it can die,’ O’Meara said. ‘The risk is immense. I’m personally very concerned; most dog owners are.’