Dog owners in Christchurch have their pets' health front of mind after news of an exotic parasite being detected in a local pup.
The Staffordshire bull terrier found with Babesia gibsoni had to be euthanised due to its illness.
While widespread overseas, the parasite had never been detected in New Zealand before and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is now investigating.
It wants pet owners to be alert but not alarmed about the finding.
The parasite can be spread by ticks or dog bites.
MPI's chief veterinary officer Mary van Andel said her message to families with animals is, "we want them to keep their tick and flea treatments up to date, we want them to limit any fighting behaviour".
1News spoke to locals attending a dog pool party this weekend about that.
One pet owner said: "We always make sure our dog is vaccinated and he always has flea treatments, regularly. It's a constant thing we keep on top of."
Another said: "A responsible dog owner would do that anyway."
Local vet nurse and co-owner of the Northlands Animal Care Hospital Bree Purdie told 1News: "Everybody can always improve.
"Even myself who has a vet clinic, I do get behind.
"We try and generate monthly reminders. It's also a good idea to put reminders on your phone ... so we don't have this parasite spreading."
She's helping get the word out about what parents of pups should be aware of.
"If your dog is going off their food, loosing weight, jaundice, yellow gums, those are all things to look for," Purdie said.
The most commonly affected breeds internationally are pitbulls, Staffordshire bull terriers and greyhounds.
"For most dogs they don't have any significant clinical signs, but for dogs that are severely affected, they could have anemia, fever," van Andel said.
MPI said when disease does occur, it is referred to as babesiosis.
It seems to be a mystery as to how the parasite came to be in New Zealand.
"This dog doesn't have any links to overseas travel or anything like that and that's really the reason we're investigating," van Andel said.
"We are working hard to determine whether this is an isolated case and where it came from."
Playmates and close contacts of the Staffordshire bull terrier who was sick have been tested and their results are due back in the coming days.
SHARE ME