Dog owners are being warned that lumps of palm oil that have been washing up on Scottish beaches could kill their pets.
Locals have been advised to keep their dogs on leads to stop them eating the white substance on the sands at Arbroath, Angus.
The white waxy blobs of congealed vegetable oil, widely used in food and cosmetics manufacturing, float over all the way from the Caribbean.
Dogs love the distinctive diesel-like smell, but the palm oil is covered in deadly germs that can cause sickness, diarrhoea and death. The solid palm oil can also lodge in their throats.
The waxy lumps may also contain other harmful bacteria and pets which eat them can develop symptoms including sickness within a very short time.
In extreme cases, further potentially deadly complications might arise.
One dog owner spotted white lumps on Arbroath beach at the weekend and, although the tides have washed obvious signs of the substance away, community groups have posted warnings that the palm oil could return.
Our East Haven Facebook page posted: ‘Dog walkers beware – palm oil was washed up onto Arbroath beach yesterday.
‘It has now disappeared but could wash up again onto any of our beaches in the high tides just now. Very dangerous and can kill dogs so watch out for it.’
Animal welfare charity PDSA advice states: ‘The rancid palm oil found on British beaches appears as white waxy lumps and some dogs will be tempted to eat it.
‘So if your dog likes to scavenge when out walking it’s best to keep them on a lead when they are on the beach for the time being.
‘If a dog has eaten the bacteria-laden palm oil, the symptoms will develop within 15 minutes of eating it and sickness is the most common sign.
‘If you suspect your dog has eaten contaminated palm oil, contact your vet immediately.’
Reports of palm oil have also emerged in recent days on English beaches in locations including Norfolk and Suffolk, leading to pancreatitis in at least one reported case.
In other separate incidents earlier in the year, two dogs died after eating sealife including starfish, washed ashore during winter storms.
MORE : Obesity now responsible for 23,000 cancer cases every year
MORE : Firefighter dies after blaze breaks out on set of Bruce Willis and Edward Norton film
Share this with