Vets say there has been a surge in the number of dogs becoming infected with tiny skin burrowing parasites.
A string of cases of canine scabies have been reported in Knighton and Oadby.
David Bentley, a vet who runs a specialist skin clinic for pets, said he and his colleagues have dealt with 11 cases in the past three months compared with only the occasional one in previous years.
He said: "The disease can be difficult for vets to diagnose, particularly when the cases don't present as a classic textbook case – the mites are hard to find on skin scrapings.
"Although there is a reliable anti-bodies blood test, the animal has to be infested for more than four weeks before antibodies can be detected.
"I saw one that had been scratching for a good few weeks and this particular case did not present with the classic distribution of lesions, but live mites were found on skin scrapings."
Mr Bentley is convinced the disease is harboured by foxes – for whom it can prove fatal.
He said: "There is a large fox population in the Knighton area and all the dogs we have seen with the disease have been exercised in Knighton Park, so we feel that this is one of the likely places that infection can be picked up."
Mr Bentley, of Bell, Brown and Bentley veterinary practice in Hinckley Road, said that foxes regularly visiting gardens can also pass it on and not necessarily by direct contact.
Mr Bentley also warned that owners of infected dogs could develop a temporary spotty rash – most likely on their arms – and should seek treatment from their doctor.
He stressed that only dogs, foxes and other canines are in danger from the disease.
He added: "I would strongly advise dog owners to go to their vets to get some preventive treatment whilst this problem exists."
Vet Eve Tarleton, who works at Borrajo's Veterinary Clinic, in Stoughton Road, Oadby, has dealt with five cases since last autumn.
Amie Glaves, vet at Vets4Pets, in Wigston, said: "I'm fairly new to the area and in my last clinic I saw one case.
"However, I've had five cases in the last six months since I moved to the area."
She recommends using Advocate, an ointment which protects dogs against mite infections.
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