An Exeter dog owner has issued a stark warning after suspected toxic pellets were found in a local playing field. If ingested, the substance can be fatal to dogs.
A woman from Exeter says she was walking her dog in Exwick Playing Fields yesterday (Saturday, November 25) when she noticed pink pellets scattered around the trees. Fearing that it may have been rat poison, she rushed her dog to the emergency vets. While someone suggested it could have been bird feed, she said she wasn't taking any chances.
In a post on the St Thomas Community page on Facebook, she said: "Dog owners be aware of rat poisoning in Exwick Playing Fields. Found scattered all round the tree opposite the bins and had an emergency trip to the vets. I will report it to the council but there's lots of it there".
READ NEXT:
Speaking to DevonLive, she added: "Someone said it could be suet pellets and having googled, it's very possible but I wasn't taking any chances."
Other users of the playing fields also reporter their dogs becoming unwell.
There are various types of outdoor poison that are considered lethal to dogs. The RSPCA reports that metaldehyde, a type of bait used to kill garden pests like slugs and snails, is the most common cause of dog deaths in cases that are reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.
Symptoms in dogs who have ingested this substance include appearing unsteady on their feet, being twitchy. They can deteriorate rapidly and even experience convulsions and respiratory failure.
Rodenticides, commonly known as rat poison, can also be life-threatening to dogs if they are anticoagulants like warfarin, which prevents blood clotting. Symptoms include bleeding but this may be internal and may not appear for several days.
The RSPCA advises owners to keep dogs away from these substances if possible. If you think your dog may have ingested poison, you should take them to the vet immediately, or an emergency vet if it is out of hours.
