A puppy which ate a suspected ‘legal high’ on an Angus beach is now recovering well, according to vets.
Aramis, a 10-month-old beagle, was “spaced out” after swallowing a suspect package on Kinnaber Beach near Montrose.
His owners rushed him to Robson Veterinary Hospital in Laurencekirk at the weekend, where Ian Anderson was on call along with nurse Barrie Scott.
Aramis’s owners, who wished to remain anonymous, said he ate a packet of powder designed to imitate a Class A controlled substance.
And Mr Anderson said this was the first time he had seen a dog consume a new psychoactive substance (NPS), which the UK Government is drafting a Bill to ban.
Mr Anderson, 51, said there was “no long-term damage or effects” showing after the dog was kept on a drip overnight.
“He wasn’t able to sit down or stand … he was spaced out,” he said.
“He was twisting and turning and his heart rate was very fast.
“Quite a lot of the time we get dogs who eat things they shouldn’t.
“You see them eating chocolate, Christmas cakes and puddings, and sometimes even their owner’s medication.
“But this is the first time I have ever seen a dog eat a legal high.”
There have been reports that another dog owner came across needles while walking their pet on the coast at nearby Inverbervie.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “This is not an issue we have come across before and we are glad this dog was not seriously harmed.”
“Anyone who believes their dog may have ingested a poisonous substance should seek immediate veterinary attention.”
In June last year, a police investigation was sparked when potentially lethal blue poison was found on the coastline nearby.
Forensics officers analysed the latest in a series of suspected poison finds at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve to the north of Kinnaber Beach, but no charges were brought.
Officials at the Scottish Natural Heritage site warned dog walkers and families with young children to be aware of the issue after the two piles were discovered by a local woman.