A WORCESTER vet practice has become one of the first in the UK to offer an innovatiove new vaccine to fight infectious diseases in dogs.

The Severn Veterinary Centre, based in Tybridge Street, can now inject broader protection against one of the most widespread canine diseases, Leptospirosis, wh-ich is potentially infectious among humans.

Practice partner Caroline Queen said the new treatment was at the forefront of protection for animals.

“Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease affecting many animal species, including dogs and occasionally hum-ans,” she said.

“Carried by rats and other rodents, it survives in damp environments including still or slow moving water.

“Any dog that exercises outdoors is at risk of this potentially fatal disease, which is why we strongly recommend annual vaccination.”

The new vaccination has emerged after new strains of the disease began appearing on the continent, needing advanced treatments.

“We are proud to be one of the first vet practices in the country to use the new four strain Leptospirosis vaccine for all future dog vaccinations,” she added.

“We’ve had vaccines targeting what were the two most common forms of the bacterium for decades, but in recent years new strains have emerged into Europe.

“It’s only now that we can defend against these threats using this new vaccine, which targets four strains of the disease rather than the traditional two.”