Heartbroken woman's warning after dog dies following walk at Greater Manchester beauty spot

A dog owner is highlighting a danger at a nature reserve in Wigan after her dog sadly got ill and passed away after a walk there last week.

Beth Hughes took her dog for a walk on Pennington Flash on Sunday before he became unwell and stopped eating on Monday. After taking the 11 year old to the vet, he was diagnosed with Parvovirus which he 'sadly couldn't fight' and passed away.

Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious, infectious illness that spreads easily, affects dogs and can be fatal. It targets cells in a dogs intestines and prevents them from absorbing vital nutrients, causing them to become weak and dehydrated.

Symptoms of the virus include vomiting, loss of appetite, collapsing, depression and fever. It is highly common in the UK and more likely to be caught by dogs who live in towns and cities.

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Beth, when speaking on the loss of her beloved pet, said: "I just want to raise awareness and stop others experiencing the pain we've had to deal with."

She wanted to raise awareness of her dog potentially picking up the virus at Pennington Flash it was the only place she and her dog went together before he became ill. They walked along the canal by the swing bridge and up into Pennington Flash, where it is likely he picked up the virus.

On a Facebook post Beth said: "Just a heads up for anyone taking their dogs to Pennington Flash, we lost our 11 year old boy yesterday after testing positive for Parvo virus at the vets, the only place he went on a walk was down the canal from the swing bridge and up into the flash on Sunday, he stopped eating on Monday and started to become unwell and sadly couldn't fight the virus. I wouldn't