An Adelaide dog owner has issued a warning after her two border collies fell ill following a visit to Silver Sands beach. Katie Wahlheim said her dogs Lucy and Ella began 'reverse sneezing' and coughing up phlegm within 20 minutes of leaving the beach on Monday. She took them to an emergency vet as symptoms worsened.
Ms Wahlheim said the water appeared clear with no foam or smell, so she believed it was safe. However, she later learned that vets were 'inundated' with similar cases from the beach that day. She also experienced a burning throat, itchy skin and swollen eyes.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) spokesperson said it was safe to take dogs to the beach but advised against letting them eat dead fish or swim in foamy or discoloured water. PIRSA said they had not received reports from vets about dogs becoming ill in the Sellicks Beach area.
Estuarine ecologist Faith Coleman noted that while Karenia algae cell counts were low in metropolitan beaches, the algae were present in deeper waters. She said other toxins in the water could also be causing illness and may take up to three months to decay.
SA Health stated that brevetoxins from marine algae are not released into the air due to hot weather. Beachgoers are reminded to check conditions via the Beachsafe app.
