A dog owner whose pooch needed pet medication after contracting lungworm is backing a campaign to raise awareness of the disease.
Laressa Stephenson, who lives near Blandford, is supporting a campaign fronted by TV vet Luke Gamble, reports the Bournemouth Echo.
Ms Stephenson realised there was something wrong with her Labrador, Belle, when the pooch developed bruising along her belly.
Belle had shown no other symptoms and only developed the 'bruise' after she had been to the vet to be neutered.
Ms Stephenson told the news provider: "I was absolutely dumbstruck when they told me Belle had lungworm.
"It was like someone had coloured her in with a purple pen. I rushed her back to the vet and they were shocked."
Dr Gamble added that lungworm can be fatal if it is left untreated and that the number of cases has doubled in the last two years.
The most common symptoms of lungworm are wheezing and weight loss.
