Dog owners are being warned to keep their pets away from a Thamesmead golf green after a Cocker Spaniel became ill with suspected toxic poisoning.

Joseph Owen, 37, was walking his dog Parker at the former Thamesview Golf Course site last Tuesday (August 16).

He says that two-year-old Parker's deterioration was so sudden that within an hour of returning home he had called the vet.

He told News Shopper: "He was vomiting and he just became ill really quickly.

"He's a really bouncy dog and he had no energy - he kept hiding and trying to go into the garden to get away from me.

"It was a very quick change in his demeanour.

"When I took him to the vet, he was extremely dehydrated, he had diarrhoea and blood in his stool.

"The vet asked straight away whether he'd been in any ponds and said they suspected it was contamination."

When he retraced his steps, Mr Owen says he noticed the water was very murky and looked greeny-blue.

Parker has been kept at the vet's since last week and Mr Owen is now hoping that he can come home soon as he is showing signs of improvement.

A spokesperson for Tilfen Land, which manages Thamesview Golf Course, said: "We have carried out a site visit and there are no visual signs of blue green algae but water can be affected by the weather so we are testing the water as a priority.

"Meanwhile we have placed warning signs around the former golf course and ask people not to swim, fish or allow dogs to enter the water."

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Veterinary surgeon Emily Brady, at Parkvets, said: “At this time of the year, and throughout the summer and autumn, blue green algae can produce a potential toxin that can be found in lakes and ponds.

“The algae can bloom suddenly as a result of certain conditions such as increased levels of sunshine, or fertiliser run off from fields.

"This means that water that was previously safe can suddenly become toxic.

“If this toxic water is ingested by dogs drinking from or swimming in the lake, they can suffer serious health complications and in many cases - such as those we have unfortunately seen today - it can quickly be fatal.

“There are also serious health risks to humans who come into contact with infected water.”

Initial symptoms of algae poisoning include muscle tremors, an increased breathing rate, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapses and seizures – and can progress to death in as little as 15 minutes.