Plant poisonous to humans and dogs washes up in Cornwall and Devon
Coastguards have issued a warning about Hemlock Water Dropwort, also known as Dead Man's Fingers
A warning has been issued amid reports of a toxic plant, that is poisonous to both humans and animals, washing up in Cornwall and Devon.
Hemlock Water Dropwort have been spotted at Porthminster in St Ives and the mini-beach at Mountbatten across the Tamar.
Even a small amount of the parsnip-like roots, also known as Dead Man's Fingers, can make people sick and can be deadly to dogs.
Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team shared a warning on social media pages this weekend, urging beach-goers to steer well clear.
They shared this photo on Saturday, saying: "Taken from another page that this was found by the Mountbatten centre on their mini beach".
Dropwort is also believed to have washed up on Porthminster Beach in St Ives, with reports of one walker having picked it up and thrown it in the bin.
It is not the first time the roots have been spotted on Cornish beaches.
Lou Lou shared the picture at the top of this article back in February, after her dog swallowed some and ended up at the vets.
These photos were shared in 2018, after some washed up at Porthkidney Beach at Lelant in the wake of Storm Emma.
What is Hemlock Water Dropwort?
On its website, Pets4Homes says "Water dropwort is a plant from the Apiaceae family, and as the name suggests, it grows in damp ground and shallow water. It can commonly be found in areas such as marshes, bogs and on the banks of streams, ponds, lakes and canals, or pretty much any freshwater area.
"Water dropwort has been hailed as “the most poisonous plant in Britain” by experts, and it also grows prolifically in many other parts of the world too.
"Water dropwort is poisonous to all animals, including people and dogs, and a small dose of the plant can lead to a lingering death over the course of a week or more, while a larger dose can actually prove fatal to both man and beast inside of a few hours".
Pets4Homes adds that "while the leaves of the plant are not toxic and can be safely consumed by grazing animals, the stems and the roots of the plants are very poisonous".
What are the symptoms of Hemlock Water Dropwort poisoning?
"Learning to spot wild water dropwort is an essential skill for dog owners that live in areas where it grows, as you will need to keep an eye on your dog around the plant in order to ensure that they don't start digging around the roots or decide to treat the plant as a light snack!
"Water dropwort poisoning in dogs is serious, severe and often, fast in onset. Some of the core symptoms that present after ingestion can include:
Drooling, muscle twitching or spasms, nervousness, dilated pupils, increased heart rate, hyperventilating, tremors, seizure and coma.
"For dogs, death after ingestion of water dropwort usually occurs due to uncontrollable seizures that prevent the lungs and heart from working effectively, and if rapid intervention takes place, it is possible that the animal can be saved.
"Ingestion of water dropwort by your dog is a veterinary emergency, and as soon as you realise that your dog has eaten the plant, you should call your vet, tell them this and take the dog to the clinic ASAP".
More advice and information about Hemlock Water Dropwort can be found on Pets4Homes' website.