Dog owners at some of Auckland's most popular beaches are baffled as to why anyone would lay deadly slug bait indiscriminately in a public area. <\/p>\n
At least seven dogs have suffered seizures which are suspected to have been the result of eating the poison while walking at Kohimarama and St Heliers beaches in east Auckland. <\/p>\n
Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic has sent a mass email to its clients warning them not to take their dogs to the beaches, after six dogs were treated for severe shaking leading to seizures; symptoms indicating they had eaten slug bait. <\/p>\n
The dogs developed symptoms six to eight hours after visiting the beaches and required immediate treatment, the email said. <\/p>\n
The clinic advised people to avoid taking their dogs to the beaches until the issue had been resolved. <\/p>\n
Abbotts Way Veterinary Clinic in nearby Remuera confirmed that about two weeks ago they had also treated a dog thought to have been poisoned by metaldehyde - the active ingredient in slug bait. <\/p>\n
While unable to go into specific details, nurse Yani Riley said the dog was thought to have been on one of the beaches prior to presenting at the clinic \"tremoring and seizuring\". <\/p>\n
Treating dogs for metaldehyde poisoning mostly just involved supportive care and trying to keep them as calm as possible. <\/p>\n
\"With the seizuring they also tend to overheat so it's important they're kept cool ... with towels and things,\" she said. <\/p>\n
Auckland Council media advisor Lydia Blatch the council had been alerted to the reports. \"There have been no new cases since Tuesday and all dogs are recovering.\" <\/p>\n
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Dogs poisoned by slug bait on Auckland beaches<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dog owners at some of Auckland's most popular beaches are baffled as to why anyone would lay deadly slug bait indiscriminately in a public area. At least seven dogs have suffered seizures which are suspected to have been the result of eating the poison while walking at Kohimarama and St Heliers beaches in east Auckland. Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic has sent a mass email to its clients warning them not to take their dogs to the beaches, after six dogs were treated for severe shaking leading to seizures; symptoms indicating they had eaten slug bait Continue reading