Kim Queen's labrador Ellie lost eight puppies after contracting leptospirosis.

"I remember the day she went into the floods," said Mrs Queen, from Brawby, near Malton.

"It seemed quite safe but now I'm told she is lucky to be alive."

Six-year-old Ellie, who was pregnant, was taken to Mrs Queen's mother-in-law's while the family went on holiday to escape the flooding. While there she started vomiting.

"She became very jaundiced and my mother-in-law took her to the vet straight away," she said.

"The vet diagnosed leptospirosis."

Ellie had her pups but sadly they all died.

"The children were upset because they were looking forward to seeing the new puppies but we had to tell them they had all died," said Mrs Queen.

"Ellie is eating normally now but she will probably have suffered liver damage.

"If she had been vaccinated none of this would have happened."