Pet owners have been warned after two dogs were poisoned at a beauty spot. The dogs, Jeff and Winnie, swallowed pink pellets at a nature reserve in Bristol.
There have been similar poisonings with reports of dogs eating pink pellets in other parts of the country in the past year. These have been linked to rat poison.
In the latest incident, reported by BristolLive, two dogs were being walked at Magpie Bottom Nature Reserve in the Hanham area of Bristol. Katie said the pink pellets looked as if they had been hidden on purpose and covered over.
Jeff and Winnie were treated at the vets and are now "doing okay." She posted a warning on a Facebook group.
It said: "I have some distressing news - my dogs were poisoned today in the woods at Magpie Bottom Nature Reserve. I was walking them this evening in the wooded area, and noticed them both eating something. Then I noticed they were bright pink pellets.
"Both dogs ok, they have been treated by vets. However, the pink pellets looked like they were deliberately hidden in piles and then covered over. They are very close to where I know there are badger sets.
"I took the pink pellets I could see, but I'm certain there will be more. Vets confirmed the pellets were poison. Hopefully has been caught in time for my dogs and it's all out of their system."
Katie told Bristol Live that both dogs had been given a drug to 'bring everything up' and were fed charcoal. The incident has been reported to Avon and Somerset Police.
Last June, a couple in couple took their dog to the vets after he ate rat poison left behind in an area popular with owners and their pets, Edinburgh Live reported. Seven year old Miniature Schnauzer Noble was spotted by owners Louise Lonie and Rik Smithson eating a number of small pink pellets while out walking in a grassy area close to Western Harbour Drive in Newhaven on June 4.
He was also made to vomit and treated with activated charcoal to combat the poisoning. After treatment, he was reported to be fit and healthy.
And last April, a dog called Buddy was poisoned after eating pink pellets in Bure Park, Bicester, Oxfordshire. He too was made to be sick and given activated charcoal for two days to soak up anything left inside him.
Owners are urged to contact vets if their dogs swallow anything suspicious as rodenticide poisoning is best treated early on.
VetsNow says: "Rat and mouse poisons, also known as rodenticides, are products formulated to kill rodents. The chemicals used in these products are often highly toxic to dogs and can cause internal bleeding, kidney failure, organ damage and even death if eaten by your dog.
"Worryingly, many modern rodenticides have a palatable flavour in order to attract animals and could look like a tasty snack to your pup." It has advice on the symptoms you dog may show if it has eaten rat poison.
How to tell if a dog ate rat poison
Signs of internal bleeding can include:
- Weakness and lethargy
- Vomiting or coughing blood
- Nose bleeds
- Bleeding from the gums
- Bleeding when doing the toilet
- Blood in stools
- Bruising
- Breathing difficulties (caused by bleeding into the lungs)
