Highland Council investigates mystery outbreak of sickness among cats and dogs in the Milton of Leys area of Inverness

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Highland Council admits it is baffled by a spate of cat and dog illnesses in an Inverness neighbourhood.

An investigation has been launched by environmental health officers after repeated reports of family pets needing emergency treatment in the city’s Milton of Leys.

Pets have shown signs of sickness, diarrhoea and lethargy within the last three weeks, with some of the animals requiring urgent veterinary care.

Highland Council has consulted with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water and a local vet as part of the probe but has so far been unable to identify the course for the problem

The bouts of sickness have prompted fears of poisoning, but there are currently no known instances of environmental pollution in the area.

A Highland Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that Highland Council’s environmental health service has contacted SEPA, Scottish Water and a local vet to ascertain the possible cause of the incidents which are appearing to affect both cats and dogs.

“Symptoms reported are pets off their food, lethargic with sickness and diarrhoea. Some elderly pets may need additional veterinary support to recover from illness.

“An Environmental Health Officer visited the area on Friday but could not identify any conditions of concerns.

“Both SEPA and Scottish Water have also reported no events in the area of Milton of Leys.

“There is, at present, no evidence of a source of this event. Investigations will continue.”

A spokeswoman for SEPA confirmed they had been in contact with council staff, but said: “We are not aware of any environmental incidents in the area and therefore have no evidence to suggest this is related to an environmental incident.”

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