A DOG has been poisoned after walking around an area in an Oxfordshire town.

Hart Vets is urging people to be 'vigilant' after Cherwell District Council informed the vets that there has been a case of what they believe to be rodenticide poisoning/toxicity (rat poison) in a dog in Bicester.

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The areas affected are Bure Park and Southwold.

Hart Vets said on Facebok: "Please be vigilant and if you think your dog is unwell contact your veterinary practice as soon as possible.

"If you see your dog eating something suspicious, it can be helpful for us to see any associated packaging. Rodenticide poisoning is best treated early on, so please call if you have any concerns."

A Bicester resident, who has asked not to be named, said her seven-month-old dog Buddy picked up the poison and had to be treated at the vets.

Oxford Mail: The poison was in these pelletsThe poison was in these pellets

She said on Facebook on Tuesday: "Please be extra careful with your dogs around the Southwold area. Our poor Buddy has just picked up rat poison which looks like it has been 'placed' just near the path. He's currently at the vets."

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After discovering the poison, the woman cleared up the pellets and alerted Cherwell District Council and Bicester Town Council about the incident.

She later gave an update. She said: "The vet confirmed it was suspected rat poison. Budderton is now resting, after meds and activated charcoal.

"More blood tests on Friday so thank goodness we acted quickly and got him to the vet."

Cherwell District Council said there has been one current case of a dog being poisoned, but that this is the third incident in the past four years in the area.

On the previous two occasions it was a blue, grain-based rat poison that was laid down.

Rat and mouse poisons, also known as rodenticides, are products formulated to kill rodents.

According to Vets Now, an out-of-hours emergency and critical care service for pets, the chemicals used in these products are often highly toxic to dogs and can cause internal bleeding, kidney failure, organ damage and even death if eaten by your dog.

Rodenticides vary in colour and can come in different forms, such as pellets and liquids.

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