Dog owners are being warned to keep their dogs on a lead around rivers and ponds amid a poisoning risk.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is urging pet owners to take extra precautions when walking their pets around freshwater bodies, as warm weather conditions spark concerns about an increased risk of toxic blue green algae growth over the coming months.
The warning follows confirmed algal bloom sightings in lakes, ponds or rivers in around 50 locations across the UK, as identified by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology’s (UKCEH). In late April, a cocker spaniel died of suspected blue green algae poisoning after a swim in Anton Lakes, Hampshire.
