A warning has been issued for dog owners around Merseyside after a 'nasty' species of jellyfish have started washing up on nearby beaches.
Both, Sefton and Wirral Councils released statements saying Portuguese Man O'War Jellyfish have been spotted on local beauty hotspots.
In a post on Twitter, Sefton Council said: "We have had reports of Portuguese Man O’War jellyfish being washed up on our beaches. If you see one, stay away, don’t touch and keeps dogs away as they have a very nasty sting, even when dead."
Wirral Council also tweeted urging owners to keep dogs away after some were spotted in West Wirral and urged the public to call their contact centre on 0151 606 2000 if they spot one so a member of their parks team can remove it.
Karl Lee spotted the "strange" looking sea animal while walking with his wife on Ainsdale beach last weekend.
The 47-year-old told the ECHO he thought it was a balloon at first but was able to identify it properly using an app.
Liverpool based dog first aider, Yvonne Jones, told TeamDogs the potential dangers of jellyfish stings and what to do should you come across one: "You should be aware that washed up jellyfish may be dead, but they still have the ability to sting for several weeks.
"So be sure to look out for beach warning signs and my advice would be that you should take your dog away from the beach even if you only see the smallest of jellyfish."
The 46-year-old says signs of jellyfish stings in dogs include:
- Vomiting
- Excessive drooling or retching
- Swelling
- Licking the affected area
- Overheating
- Difficulty breathing
- Quiet and lethargic
- Itching or pain
Yvonne stresses that time is of the essence as if there is swelling around the face or neck, there is risk of a compromised airway. She advised to use a soaked, cold piece of material on the area to help cool it.
It is also recommended to take a photo of the jellyfish so the vet knows what they are dealing with.
She added: "Firstly, don’t pee on your dog, it’s not going to help, instead ring the vet to let them know you are on the way and then try to remove any stingers safely.
"Carry your dog to reduce the spread of the toxins if at all possible. Use saltwater rather than freshwater to bathe the wound if you have some available. You shouldn’t use fresh water as it may make any remaining jellyfish parts remaining leak further venom.
"Keep monitoring the airway for swelling and if you think your dog is going to collapse, get them into the canine recovery position."
The recovery time for dogs stung by a jellyfish ranges from two to 48 hours and most dogs usually recover with no side-effects.
One local recalled her horrific experience online saying: "I remember my dog ran straight up to one on her very first time on the beach, and we ended up in the vets getting sand pumped from her stomach because she got stung on her face and nose and started licking sand trying to soothe it.
"It was horrible for her mostly, poor thing. She soon got over it anyway and knows to stay away now."
Should you spot a jellyfish on the beaches, contact 0151 606 2000 and the park team shall remove it.
