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Animal welfare organisations in Cape Town are urging pet owners to keep a lookout after numerous incidents have shown dogs being poisoned by ingesting what appears to be drugs in faeces in various locations across the city, including Claremont and Camps Bay.

This is following an incident in which a dog was rushed to hospital.

A panicked Claremont dog owner had to rush her seven-month-old adopted dog, Larry, to the vet on Monday morning, April 15, after he allegedly accidentally ingested drug-tainted human faeces.

Apparently, Larry found the toxic substance in a flower bed on the sidewalk in Claremont, which soon prompted one of the most alarming experiences of his little life.

According to the Animal Welfare Society of SA (AWS SA) via IOL, the owner noticed that Larry appeared “spaced out” shortly after returning home, with his condition rapidly deteriorating from there. This pushed them to seek emergency veterinary treatment for suspected poisoning.

Later that evening, the dog experienced another distressing episode, characterised by paranoia, erratic behaviour, and a racing heart rate.

Sounds like something the stimulant, methamphetamine, colloquially known in South Africa as “tik”, could cause.

Indeed, the vet attending to Larry had a strong suspicion that the poop he chomped on contained traces of tik or a similar substance.

Larry’s dog owner’s sister is a qualified animal behaviourist who walks a few groups of dogs at the Glen in Camps Bay and has had two similar experiences with her own dog.

“She has also established that there have been other incidents at Keurboom Park and Rondebosch Common – both popular venues for dog walkers,” the organisation said.

Thankfully, Larry has made a full recovery and is back to his usual antics but his owner has been spooked, and going forward plans to have a ready supply of activated charcoal on hand to render emergency first aid. Consider that tip number one.

“Drug-tainted human ‘poop’ is not uncommon and we urge all pet owners to be extra vigilant when out for a stroll with their dogs especially in parks and other public places frequented by drug users and other undesirables who defecate in the bushes and have no qualms about discarding their toxic drug paraphernalia in flower beds and other areas easily accessible to pet,” stated AWS SA spokesperson, Allan Perrins.

The organisation said that its hospitals are well equipped to handle poisoned pets and has urged folks who suspect that their pet has ingested a toxic substance to seek immediate veterinary help by calling their hospital on 021 692 2626 or the emergency after-hours nurse on 082 601 1761.

[source:iol]