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Dog owners in Cornwall have been warned to check what their beloved pet may be eating on the beach after a Siberian husky died of food poisoning from eating a shore crab.

While the incident happened at Felixstowe Ferry, Suffolk, in January, Devon and Cornwall Police have issued a health warning following confirmation that the dog, along with a golden retriever which died at a beach in North Norfolk on New Year's Eve, suffered from paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

Tests carried out by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) found high concentrations of PSP toxins in some sea molluscs such as starfish, mussels, clams, oysters and scallops.

(Image: Wiki Commons)

Paul Thomas, the regional enforcement manager for the Angling Trust in Eastern England, said very high concentrations of PSP toxins were also found in starfish (15,000 to 22,000 micrograms per kilogramme of tissue tested) when the EU regulatory maximum level for PSP toxins permitted in live bivalve molluscs like mussles or clams is 800 micrograms per kilogramme of tissue tested.

Mr Thomas insisted the risk level remained altogether low for beach users and their dogs up and down the country but precautions ought to be taken to ensure dogs do not ingest marine molluscs which could poison them.

He added: "PSP toxins are primarily associated with bivalve molluscs such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops.

"These are filter feeders and can accumulate PSP toxins, which are produced naturally by certain species of microscopic algae. Algal blooms do not usually occur during winter months in the UK and the source of the contamination is being investigated.

"Analysis of pathological samples and symptomology of the affected dogs indicates that their deaths were likely to have been a consequence of ingesting PSP-contaminated marine animals.

"It is thought that the contaminated animals were washed up on beaches during winter storms and are likely to have now been washed back into the sea."

Cefas, the Food Standards Agency, Local Authority Environmental Health departments, the Marine Management Organisation and the Environment Agency have been alerted to the incidents and are working together to carry further tests.

Andrew Turner, from Cefas, said the only risk was from ingesting PSP-contaminated animals found on the beach, which means simple precautions should be followed to ensure that pets and people do not eat anything they find on the beach.

Recreational sea anglers, who often fish for these species at this time of year, are advised to return their catch to the sea and avoid retaining it for consumption as a precautionary measure.

Julian Gregory, chief executive officer of Eastern IFCA, said: "It is important that we take a measured and joined-up approach in working to find out what the extent of PSP contamination may be.

"At this point there is nothing to indicate that species sold for human consumption such as brown crabs or lobster are affected but as a precautionary measure we are sampling a range of marine animals to ensure that any on-going PSP contamination is identified."

(Image: Wiki Commons)

There is no risk from the presence of PSP toxins in seawater, and the test results from sampling undertaken so far does not indicate that such contamination currently exists.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman added: "Recreational users of the coast, in particular dog walkers, are advised to take simple precautions to prevent their pets from consuming anything found on a beach.

"While walking on the coast, these may include keeping their pets under close control, on leads or muzzled, if considered appropriate."

Owners of pets which become ill after consuming items on beaches in Cornwall are asked to report the matter to Cornwall Council.