Mystery dog deaths

Dogs get thirsty when they are out for a walk and it might be that drinking dirty water has caused the death of over ten dogs in the area near Sandringham.   After walking their dogs through woodland, owners recently noticed their dogs becoming ill, some have recovered after veterinary treatment but a lot more have died.   No one knows for sure what has caused this tragedy but it may be to do with the recent warm weather which has caused algae to bloom on areas of stagnant water.   The green slime (sometimes it’s a blueish colour) is extremely toxic to all animals.   Even if they step in it they will become ill.

Ponds are sometimes covered in algae, if your dog is a swimmer you need to watch him for symptoms if he’s been in the water.  Any signs of illness and you need to get to the vet quickly.

A combination of rain and humid conditions causes it to appear very quickly.   Watch out for water bowls outside at home, they can develop algae too.  It looks so innocent but drinking it can lead to a severe reaction and even death.   Cats too are affected and rabbits are particularly at risk through the plastic drinking bottles.   We like stoneware dishes that are easy to rinse out.