Dog seriously ill after drinking water from Perthshire stream

Dog walkers warned as Sepa investigates if Auchterarder burn could be infected with toxic algae

A dog is being treated by specialist vets after drinking infected water from a Perthshire stream.

The pet was taken to the Small Animal Hospital in Glasgow after falling seriously ill.

It had been swimming in a burn at Auchterarder, between the fish ladder and Abbey Road.

Officers from the environment organisation Sepa are investigating the incident and have taken samples of the water. It is thought the stream could be infected with toxic algae, which builds up in the summer.

The team behind the Dog Friendly Perthshire tourism campaign warned its followers about the incident. The group said the dog had been at the foot of stairs, at the bottom of Lundies Walk.

It comes just days after dog walkers were warned about pollution at Quarrymill woods, on the edge of Perth.

At least two dogs have fallen ill after swimming in the water. The site has been busy with families during the heatwave and there are worries about children who have been splashing about in the sunshine.

Sepa is probing this incident too, which it believes may have been caused by effluent from a nearby farm.

Meanwhile, warning signs have been installed at Loch Leven, in Kinrossshire, warning about a potentially hazardous algae spotted at the water’s edge. The blue-green substance has been building up on the shoreline in recent weeks. It can be deadly for dogs and harmful to humans.

Perth and Kinross Council has installed warning signs, alerting visitors: “Swallowing the water or algal scum can cause stomach upsets or mere serious health effects.”

Two dogs have died drinking from similarly infected waters at River Conon, near Maryburgh in the Highlands, and Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute.

It happens during unusually hot periods, when watercourses have been cleaned by rain.

When ingested, the algae can cause liver damage and can also affect the nervous system. Symptoms for humans include vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and joint pains.

An app has been released – Bloomin’ Algae – that allows users to record algal blooms in their area and submit details and photos to a national database.

The bluegreen substance can be deadly for dogs and harmful for humans