A number of dogs have been struck down by a mystery illness after walks, leaving their owners baffled as to what could have caused it.

There have been reports across Maidstone of pets falling ill after walking in certain areas.

Connor Carey, from Detling, took his two Labradors, Murphy and Bramble, for a walk in Mote Park with two other pets in the family on Monday, October 30.

But upon returning home two-year-old Murphy began acting strangely.

Connor, 27, said: “We went for a walk with four dogs.

“Those four dogs played in the same area they normally do in Mote Park, near the Willington Street entrance with the small bridge.

“The dogs tend to paddle in there. It was all fine and normal.

“We came home and then we noticed one of our dogs was sleepy in the afternoon and we thought it was really weird.

“We didn’t think much more of it, just that we must’ve worn him out on the walk. He’s been fine since.

“But we have another dog and the following morning she went out for a toilet then came in and started acting strange – very skitty, jaw locking and then went into a seizure.”

Connor contacted the other family members who he’d been on the walk with and found out Badger, a border collie, was also very ill.

The tree surgeon continued: “A collie normally goes at 100% all the time but hadn’t been to the toilet and hadn’t eaten and was just acting ill.

“He was dizzy and he had the shakes and fell down the stairs and was all off kilter

“He’s now on the mends having just started eating again but he still has a bit of a way to go to 100%.”

Connor said the three dogs that had shown “signs of something untoward” had all played in the water, submerging their faces, while the fourth only dipped its toes in for paddle.

Though all the dogs are now recovered or on the mend, the cause of the illness is unknown.

Connor said: “Vets are slightly perplexed because if it was something like blue-green algae it tends to linger, and their lethargy usually hangs around.”

There have been reports on social media of dogs also falling seriously ill after walks around Tovil and Langley.

Maidstone council has been talking to owners in the hope of finding a cause but so far none has been found, nor any tangible connection linking each case together.

A council spokesperson said: “The council continues to monitor the situation and advises dog walkers to stay vigilant, keep their dogs close, and if they are worried about their dog’s health, to take them to the vets for investigation into the cause.

“Pathogens such as viruses and bacteria can spread through the excrement of dogs, so it is important to make sure you are picking up after your dog to help prevent the spread of diseases.”