A HIGH-PROFILE vet has warned on the dangers of letting dogs swim in sewage-infested seawater.
Veterinary surgeon Marc Abraham, a regular guest on TV news shows, said owners should stop their pets from going in the sea while raw sewage is rife in Sussex.
Dogs can contract illnesses such as gastroenteritis by ingesting poisonous seawater directly or from licking their fur after a swim.
“It’s preventable by not letting their dog swim in the sea,” said Marc, who lives in the city.
“There have been cases in the news. It can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and be bloody expensive if they are hospitalised, at around one or two thousand pounds.”
In some cases, dogs can die from gastroenteritis.
Marc also warned of blue-green algal bloom in freshwater ponds and lakes due to recent hot weather.
He said algal bloom can also cause pets to become ill.
“It’s not nice for dogs or their owners. I would advise keeping them out of fresh and seawater at the moment,” he said.
Blue-green algae can be toxic or even deadly for dogs.
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