Vets across Cape Town are cautioning dog-owners about deadly pufferfish lying on beaches in the Mother City.
More than 10 dogs have been treated for poisoning, and some have even died, after making contact with pufferfish lying on the beach.
In a post on Facebook on Monday, 12 April Fish Hoek Vet warned dog-owners to be extra vigilant while walking their pets near the sea because “in the last few weeks there have been many dead puffer fish washed up on the beaches of the peninsula”.
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“Puffer fish contain a potent toxin which can cause severe toxicosis for dogs that lick or eat these washed up fish. signs vary from vomiting (most common) to seizures and death,” read the post.
They advised pet-parents to keep their dogs leashed until the situation is under control.
What are pufferfish
They have a rounded, long head and body, and measure up to 40cm on average. Unlike other fish, it doesn’t have fins – instead it has a tough, thick, slippery skin which is predominantly brown and beige with dark patches.
Pufferfish have four merged teeth which form the strong upper and lower plates. They are also slow swimmers and use their pectoral fins to propel themselves. They are called pufferfish because they gulp water or air when on land to inflate their bodies and turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball, several times their normal size.
These fish are extremely poisonous and contain a potent toxin called tetrodotoxin and/or saxitoxin which can cause severe illness and death. These are central nervous system toxins and considered more deadly than cyanide.
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