The Dogmother Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Just been sent this by a friend: WARNING: Welwyn Garden City In England Original poster = Jo Hart (agilitynet) - permission gained to crosspost Just wanted to let you all know what happened yesterday on my walk through the woods, as I'm sure a few of you swim your dogs. There is a stream where they all usually paddle which this morning was more like a river with large ponds in areas. They were in and out of the water for a lot of the walk, retrieving things from the ponds too. On the way back from the walk my border terrier, Izzy, started limping, holding her knee almost parallel with her body and shaking vigorously, at this point I thought she had done something to the leg as she refused to put any weight on it. We picked her up and headed to the car to go to the vet. On the way to the vet we realised Izzy wasn't putting weight on the other leg either and she was frantically licking both legs. We noticed she was very unsteady and wobbly and thought maybe she had sprained her spine (if they can do that?), which was causing her legs to feel numb, she had lost control of her back end. She also wet herself on the way to the vets. When we got her to the vet she was no longer limping, but was very unsteady and couldn't walk properly, she was panicky, hot and scratching her feet against the floor. Whilst I was in the vets, my partner ran in to say both our other dogs, (which are large dogs) were now doing the same (loss of control of the back legs, scratching, panicking). The vet came to the conclusion they have been poisoned by fertilizer in the run off from the field in the river, and having washed them immediately, given them steroid injections, charcoal, piriton and lots of food and water, they seem slightly wobbly and tired but ok (I'm watching closely for the next 24 hours). We're not sure where the fertilizer came from as nothing has been used on the field next to the stream (or obviously in the woods) for years but I'm aware there is a farm next to the land... I'm trying to contact the environment agency. I've never heard of this happening before so I thought I'd just warn you as with the rain we have had the farmers chemicals can be spread quite a way. My lot certainly won't be swimming for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Sounds a bit sus to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 I agree, very odd but worth being aware of. I'm not sure how those chemicals could be in enough of a concentration in flood water to do that damage so perhaps they picked it up some other way. It does sound like some sort of damage to the nervous system though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 It would be interesting to see if the fish if that area suffer, If they do then the farmer is using banned chemicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 I am guessing that the vet concerned would have made a report to Defra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Good! farmers will use old chemicals the have stashed if they think they can get away with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 How awful. How are the dogs now? I do hope there was no permanent damage. What a worry If a farmer has been using some banned substance I hope they lock him up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 I'm afraid that I don't know any more, she'd seen it posted on a dog message board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 I am guessing that the vet concerned would have made a report to Defra. I wouldn't bank on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I've just heard of a dog in Scotland that sounds as if it has the same symptoms, The vets wasn't as clued up and has sent the dog to a brain specialist . I think OH has told her about this thread and hopefully she'll get a second opinion before spend lots of money. Good call on the vet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 Fingers crossed for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
