Dog owners have been warned to be careful whilst walking their four-legged friends on the beach after sightings of a highly poisonous plant known to kill animals when ingested. Hemlock water dropwort roots have been spotted washed up at Ferryside, Cefn Sidan and Burry Port beaches.
It has been known to cause paralysis and death in pets, along with breathing difficulties, as it contains alkaloids which attack the nervous system, and is also harmful to humans. The roots of the plant are the most toxic part. A dog walker said that she picked some up and removed it out of harm's way on Monday, whilst there has been plenty of other sightings across the Carmarthenshire destinations.
Lisa Smith, who runs Barkers Dog Walking Services in Burry Port, said the presence of the substance meant she was not taking pets to the beaches for the time being. She said: "For us, it means there's a few groups of dogs I can't take on the beach now because they are quite inquisitive and don't understand the phrase 'leave it'! For me, it means I'm not going to go down to the beach for now. A couple of tides and it should have washed away again." For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
READ MORE: XL bullies will be around for years to come despite ban, says PDSA
READ MORE: Traders criticise ‘high-profile’ filming set to close off Welsh seafront
The plant can get washed down from rivers after heavy rain before emerging out of estuaries. It grows on damp ground, such as road verges, waste grounds, ditches and riverbanks. Symptoms can include vomiting, weakness and difficulty breathing.
Pets4Homes writes on its website: "Water dropwort is poisonous to all animals, including people and dogs, and a small dose of the plant can lead to a lingering death over the course of a week or more, while a larger dose can actually prove fatal to both man and beast inside of a few hours. While the leaves of the plant are not toxic and can be safely consumed by grazing animals, the stems and the roots of the plants are very poisonous." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
