Dog 'violently ill' after brief contact with jellyfish

Ziggy, who is 18-months-old, went over to investigate the Lion's Mane Jellyfish on Talacre beach whilst out on a walk with owner Hilary Pullen at about 6pm on Monday, August 7.

After the brief contact, Ziggy began "retching" and became "violently ill."

Hilary, of Prestatyn, said: "He became ill almost instantly, he was retching and violently throwing up. He had a really nasty reaction. He was still not right a few hours later, he just wanted to eat grass and make himself ill."

Hilary called her vet for advice.

The massive Lion’s Mane jellyfish on Talacre beach (Image: Hilary Pullen)

"About four hours passed before I was happy he was ok and he was sleeping," Hilary said.

"I gave him a piriton tablet after Googling for help. The vets had just said to monitor his breathing and to bring him in if it got worse.

"I was really worried once I found out it was a Lion's Mane Jellyfish and very poisonous, but I just kept a really close eye on him and made sure he had lots of water and cuddles to try keep him calm. He just wanted to be out eating grass and making himself retch."

Hilary said the jellyfish was the size of a large dinner plate. 

Ziggy at Talacre beach (Image: Hilary Pullen)

"Ziggy has never investigated a jellyfish like this before," Hilary said.

"He only sniffed it for a second but that was enough for him to be stung or get poisoned. I think he may have licked it."

Hilary took to Facebook to raise awareness of the incident and to warn other dog owners. 

One dog owner replied: "Our dog got stung recently. She was just very itchy and biting at the sting marks, which have left scars. Treatment vet gave were antihistamines and steroids. She was fully recovered in about 10 days."

The Lion's Mane Jellyfish is the largest among the jelly species. (Image: Hilary Pullen)

Another posted: "My dog found one on Barkby Beach (Prestatyn). Was too late to pull him off completely. He ate loads of grass and it seemed to hurt when he swallowed but was fine a couple of hours later."

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Another person added: "My little pups did the same, she started having breathing issues but once she ate grass and drank a gallon of water she was ok. This jellyfish was buried in the sand."

Hilary added: "It's really important to raise awareness. Ziggy is a big, strong dog and he only briefly touched the jellyfish. It's definitely made me more aware.

"I dread to think what would have happened if he'd actually bitten into it."