Urgent warning to dog owners over popular activity after pooch falls ill
AN URGENT warning has been issued to dog owners after a pooch fell ill.
Katie Reed, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, was left devastated when her Boston Terrier Hugo fell ill after doing his favourite activity.
Katie let Hugo paddle in the River Avon while walking him on Tuesday.
But the next morning she discovered "faecal armageddon" on her living room floor.
Two-year-old mutt Hugo had also started "violently vomiting".
And Katie was forced to spend £107 on two anti-sickness jabs from a local vet.
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Now Katie has vowed never to let her dog swim in the river again.
She told the : "I won't go back to that bit. It makes you think of keeping them home in a paddling pool.
"We should be enjoying our rivers, not worrying about going in them."
A fellow dog walker warned Katie the River Avon has become dirtier after Wessex Water released sewage through storm drain overflows.
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Vet charity PDSA said swimming can help your furry friend stay cool.
It said: "Not every dog is a water baby. Dogs with short legs – like Corgis – or short noses – like Pugs – will find the effort of swimming really hard work.
";Even some dogs that are built for swimming just won’t enjoy going out of their depth."
When first taking your dog for a dip, stick to shallow water and support them under their stomach.
Never leave your pooch unattended - and if they get into trouble, call 999 rather than put yourself in danger.
Avoid canals brimming with stagnant water or reservoirs full of hidden dangers - as well as fast or flooded rivers and rough seas.
Your pooch could become seriously ill if they catch leptospirosis or blue-green algae - so if they enter contaminated water, stop them licking their fur and call your vet immediately.
It comes after the RSPCA issued an urgent warning to dog owners over a common household item that can be poisonous for canines.