A river worker has warned dog walkers to be wary near Blairgowrie’s river bank after his border terrier contracted a parasite carried in beavers for the second year in a row.
Robert Kellie is calling on Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to humanely trap and test the animals on the River Ericht for giardiasis, which is spread by ingestion of contaminated water or food.
He fears that if the spread of the parasite is not kept in check the issue could worsen.
Although SNH says it has no record of giardiasis in Scottish beavers, last year Robert lost two stone in weight and, after vets diagnosed his Border Terrier, Ben, with the same disease, doctors realised Mr Kellie also had the parasite.
The condition, where the main symptoms are diarrhoea and stomach cramps, left diabetic Mr Kellie with secondary anaemia and a lactose intolerance.
The beavers have been resident on the River Ericht for the past two decades, after being illegally released in the Strathmore and Glen areas, and Robert is urging SNH to take action.
He said: “I have tried to get SNH to trap the beavers and test them to see if they are the source of the parasite.
“TI was assured that they have tested quite a few and that they are clear. But they didn’t test any in this area.
“I am trying to get assurances from SNH just to rule things out.
“Last year my dog and myself had the same parasite.
“This year the same has happened and the dog was passing blood.
“It was the same week last year [first week of December]. He drank from a pond and I think that is how he got it. I took a sample to the vet to see what they’d say.
“They tested it and the sample reacted so it was positive.
“The vets in Blair say they think there is an increase in cases. One or two have gotten in touch with me about it saying their dog got ill after being along the river.
“Dog walkers need to watch what their dog is eating and drinking by the river bank.”
Head registered veterinary nurse at Blairgowrie Vets Limited, Irene MacKenzie, said: “Giardiasis is spread by ingestion of contaminated water or food.
“Most animal species can be infected including wildlife with the main symptoms are diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
“Modern techniques and improvements in diagnostic aids have meant that patients are being diagnosed quickly and successfully treated.
“Advice to dog walkers would be to practice good hygiene.
“Don’t allow your dog to drink from water or eat faecal material.”
A spokeswoman for SNH said: “We’ve been in touch with Mr Kellie on several occasions to discuss his concerns and are happy to continue to do so.
“Humans, pets, livestock such as sheep and cattle and wild animals like deer and foxes are all potential sources of giardiasis.
“While beavers can carry this parasite, to date giardiasis has not been found in any beavers in Scotland, despite targeted testing that continues to be carried out both of live animals and carcasses in Tayside as well as in Knapdale.
“Research undertaken on this subject concluded that the reintroduction of beavers into Scotland would present a very small additional risk relative to the large number of wild, domestic and livestock animals and humans which contribute to the existing public health risk posed by giardiasis.”
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