Louping Ill

Seek urgent veterinary attention Louping ill can cause rapidly progressing neurological illness. Contact your vet immediately if your dog develops a high temperature, poor coordination, tremors, weakness, paralysis or seizures—particularly following possible tick exposure.

Louping ill virus (LIV) is a flavivirus that causes an acute, tick-borne viral disease. It primarily affects sheep and red grouse, but dogs, cattle, horses, goats, other mammals and humans can also be infected.

The virus is transmitted principally by the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus. It is most closely associated with upland areas of the UK and Ireland where this tick is prevalent.

Possible Symptoms

High temperature
Depression or unusual quietness
Poor coordination or an unsteady gait
Muscle tremors
Seizures
Weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs
Coma
Death

Diagnosis may involve antibody testing or PCR testing alongside the dog’s symptoms and possible history of tick exposure.

There is currently no specific treatment or commercially available vaccine. Veterinary management is based on supportive care and may include nursing, hand-feeding, reducing external stimulation and other treatment appropriate to the individual animal.

Reducing the Risk

Check your dog carefully for ticks after walks.
Remove attached ticks promptly and correctly.
Ask your vet about an appropriate tick-control product for your dog.
Where practical, avoid tick-infested areas such as rough moorland, heather and long grass.
Be particularly vigilant in areas where louping ill is known to occur.

Rosie’s Story

Personal account shared by Calderdale Moorland Group on Facebook, 18 October 2025

“On Wednesday last week we lost our beautiful young dog Rosie. She had been quiet for a couple of days, but nothing appeared seriously wrong.

“On Tuesday morning she came out of the kennel with a real lack of coordination, rather like a dog recovering from an anaesthetic. Because our neighbours had sadly experienced the same thing, I knew these could be symptoms of louping ill.

“The vet found that Rosie had a high temperature. Blood tests showed normal liver and kidney results, normal white blood cells, slightly low lymphocytes and very mild anaemia. Because I raised concerns about louping ill, a blood sample was sent away for testing.

“She deteriorated very quickly. By the afternoon she had a head tremor and was very unsteady. By night-time she was walking into walls and falling over.

“By Wednesday morning she could no longer stand, and we made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep. Nine days later the results confirmed that she was positive for louping ill virus.”

Vaccine Research

Moredun has been working on the development of a new vaccine for louping ill. Research has produced encouraging results, but no vaccine is currently commercially available.