'I'm warning other dog owners after a horror infection killed my beloved pet'

Little Luna from Hull initially went off her food, which didn't seem unusual to her family, but when her eyes later turned yellow and she began needing to go to the toilet often they realised something was horribly wrong

A family is mourning the loss of their cherished dog who tragically died after contracting an infection that her owner believes was picked up during a walk.

Owner Chelsea Carson from Hull, is now on a mission to spread awareness about leptospirosis, also known as Weil's Disease, which is often carried by rodents such as mice and rats.

After losing Luna, she urged pet owners: "If you think your dog is not themselves and something could be wrong just get them checked out as soon as you can. At first, Luna went off her food but I didn't think a lot of it at first because she can be picky with her food anyway. I thought she was having an off day."

She continued, recounting the harrowing experience: "Then it got to Monday and I noticed her eyes went yellow and she was drinking a lot of water and constantly back and forth to the toilet. I took her to the vet's and found out she was poorly."

Describing the rapid decline in Luna's health, Chelsea said: "Basically, they did some blood tests on her and told me she was jaundiced which is her liver failing. They then gave her antibiotics and fluids which they thought would help. They did this for two days and she just deteriorated."

The heartache was palpable as she spoke of the care Luna received: "Me and my partner would take her home for the night from the vet's and she was really, really poorly," reports Hull Live.

On October 3, the diagnosis was confirmed by the vet at Pets at Home as leptospirosis. The situation took a dire turn when the infection spread to Luna's brain, leading to the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep.

Chelsea lamented: "She was quite young and she still should have had a lot more years before she went. That's what has broken me more, the fact that she was still so young."

Chelsea said: "I miss everything about her. She was the light of my life. I'd come home from work and she'd be at the window waiting for me to come in. She absolutely loved her cuddles. She was very hyperactive."

"It's really quite sad because I'm currently eight months pregnant so that has made the process a lot harder. I see it as she's not going to meet her baby brother. She was always cuddling me and my belly. She always put a smile on your face, even if you was having a bad day."

Chelsea added: "There is a vaccination to protect against leptospirosis but no vaccine is 100% as Luna was vaccinated. But it can help protect against it."