Suspected poisoning kills three dogs
Be alert for foreign packets or food in your garden
Highway residents are urged to be alert after incidents of suspected dog poisoning have been reported.
A Labrador and Cocker Spaniel are suspected of being poisoned in Barron Road, Westriding, Hillcrest on Sunday, 29 June while their owner was out.
When their owners arrived home they found the Cocker Spaniel vomiting and frothing at the mouth.
They rushed her to the vet, but she had a seizure and died an hour later. The Labrador showed similar symptoms, and was also rushed to the vet and thankfully after intensive treatment for two days, recovered.
“We are not certain the dogs were poisoned – it is simply the explanation that makes the most sense of the circumstances. There was nothing found on the property that would suggest this other than the dogs falling very ill,”explained the dogs’ owner.
On Monday evening, 30 June two Labradors were poisoned in Monteseel, their owner unfortunately found them both dead the next morning.
They were taken to the Kloof & Highway SPCA where a vet autopsy discovered black granules in their stomach which confirmed they had been poisoned with temic (2 step).
Their owner discovered a bag on their property which contained kitchen rubbish and food which did not belong to them.
Dr Yesh Govender from the Kloof & Highway SPCA said that the most common poisoning is organic phospate (carbonates).
This is also known as two-step poisoning because at a high concentration a dog can literally take two steps and die. At a lesser concentration the symptoms would be:
* Vomiting – black granules noticed in the vomit.
* Diarrhoea
*Shivering
*Seizures
*Muscle Tremors
*Pin-pricked sized pupils
*Heart rate and pulse slows dramatically
*The animal can feel disorientated and/or collapse
“The most common product used to disguise it is sausage or wors. It is easy for the sausage or wors to be split down the centre and to then lace it with poison.
“More advanced criminals sometimes even stitch it closed to ensure maximum exposure of poisoning. If you notice any signs that have been described, it is important to rush your pet to the vet for them to make a definite diagnosis. Please do not attempt your own treatment or home remedy,” said Dr Govender.
