Dog owners have been urged to be on guard after reports of suspected dog poisonings on the Sunshine Coast.
The warning from Sunshine Coast Council comes just four months after a spate of suspected poisonings in the same area, in which at least five dogs died.
“There have been reports of suspected dog poisonings at Point Cartwright and Buddina,” council said via social media on Friday.
“RSPCA Queensland is the lead agency dealing with this issue and are investigating.
“We encourage dog owners to remain vigilant and keep their dogs in sight at all times while in off-leash areas and monitor what they are putting in their mouths, ensure their dog is responsive to voice commands before letting them off leash so they can be called away from unknown food sources, and contact their vet at the first sign of any symptoms such as gastro, breathlessness or being listless.
“RSPCA Queensland’s investigation is ongoing and we continue to urge dog owners and vets to report suspected poisoning instances or any relevant information to the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL.”
Point Cartwright and Buddina are popular destinations for dog owners, locals and tourists.
North Coast Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care also urged caution after tending to dogs that had fallen ill after being to Kawana and Point Cartwright beach areas.
“Please keep your dog on a leash,” it said via social media.
“We have recently consulted on two patients with acute renal failure 36 to 48 hours after they have been to this beach area.
“The initial sign noted in both patients was acute vomiting after being at the beach and this progressed to inappetence and lethargy.
“We do not know the source of the toxin so it is wise to keep your pet under supervision while on this stretch of beach.
“If you suspect your dog has ingested something, it shouldn’t have, please seek medical attention immediately.”
North Coast Vet Emergency and Critical Care team is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays.
A post on the Friends of Buddina community Facebook group showed what appeared to be blue-green algae on the shoreline on Thursday.
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has warned that pets can be affected by algal bloom development.
“Dogs are particularly susceptible because they lick their coats after swimming,” the department said on its website.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
