Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) only affects sheep, cattle, pigs and goats.  Wild animals that may be infected include deer, wild boar and hedgehogs.  Horses, dogs and cats cannot be infected.

FMD can be devastating for farmers and their animals but dog owners should also be aware of the potential for them to spread the disease.  Dogs cannot be infected with Foot and Mouth Disease and even the likelihood of their owners being infected is extremely small and generally nothing to worry about.

But FMD is spread largely by the movement of people and vehicles and so dog owners who exercise their dogs in the country risk inadvertently helping to spread it.  Dog owners should therefore take some sensible precautions:

• If you live in the area of infection close to an infected farm, you should not exercise your dog in the countryside but use local public parks.
• If you are away from an infected area and take your dog to the country for a walk, keep well away from any farm or wild animals.
• If you exercise your dog in the country be sure to clean and disinfect you footwear before and after your walk and wash your dog's feet when you get home.

If you wish to know whether you are in an infected area you should look at the DEFRA website on http://www.defra.gov.uk/. Please note that so far there have only been two outbreaks confirmed, both in Surrey. If you have any further questions please visit the DEFRAs website where they have an extensive list of Questions and Answers: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/about/qanda-0807.htm