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Palm oil poisoning ongoing in Cornwall
Dog on beach
Vets in Truro say they saw daily cases of poisoning until three weeks ago.
Truro vets report daily cases of poisoning in dogs

Vets in Cornwall say they had been seeing daily cases of palm oil poisoning in dogs until recently but the problem is still ongoing.

Reports of a white substance washed up on beaches first began to appear in October when one dog died after ingesting it and two others became seriously ill. Shortly after this, this substance was identified as palm oil.

Cases of a white substance washed up on beaches have since been reported in Devon and Guernsey.

Chris Gardner of St Clements Vets in Truro says three weeks ago they were seeing a dogs on a daily basis that had ingested palm oil.

"It went quiet for a week or so until we had another dog two days ago," he adds. "It is possible that there were less dogs on the beaches due to poor weather, more awareness of the problem, or that the storms had moved the palm oil further down the beach to the quieter end, as there seems to be a lot of flotsam and jetsam there."

Each dog brought to St Clements Vets recovered after vomiting was induced with apomorphine and liquid charcoal administered.

Members of the public have been helping to clear up the beach, with some collecting boulders of around 60cm across.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.