Dog walkers in the Tokai area have raised concerns after their dogs fell ill after playing and swimming in the Prinskasteel River in the Tokai Forest. (Oli Scarff/AFP)
- Dog owners are advised to exercise caution when bringing their pets into the Tokai Forest.
- A community organization warned that many dogs had become ill after playing in the river.
- The dogs apparently contracted giardia parasite, which causes diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss.
Dog walkers have been warned to be careful when taking their pets for walks in the popular Tokai Forest, following reports that several dogs fell ill after swimming in the Prinskasteel River.
Parkscape, an organization that alerts residents about what’s happening in the area, posted a warning on social media, urging dog owners to be cautious after reports that giardia was found in the river.
Giardia is a common intestinal parasite that affects humans and animals.
Nicky Schmidt, the organization’s founder and spokesperson, said that about two weeks ago, dog walkers in the Tokai area raised concerns. Their dogs had become ill after playing and swimming in the Prinskasteel River in the Tokai Forest.
The Prinskasteel River runs from the Constantiaberg through the Tokai picnic site and into Lower Tokai. It then joins the Keysers River and finally flows into Zandvlei.
“When I received these messages concerning, I [asked] my team if they heard about giardia parasites found in the river. One of our team members noted that Steenberg Vet had issued an alert to customers, warning dog walkers that giardia levels were rising in the water.”
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However, Lora Moss of the Steenberg Veterinary Clinic said they were not aware of the claims.
“Nor have we been asked to put an alert by any of our vets. We have tried to clarify this and update as soon as we have some information, but as it has not been alerted by Steenberg Vet,” he said. Moss.
According to Schmidt, giardia was common in many of the streams coming from the mountain at this time of year.
“When the water dries up, it starts to stagnate, and giardia and other parasites and bacteria levels increase. We don’t know of any dogs that have died from this; only some are sick.
“We have been in contact with local veterinarians to understand the situation and whether there is giardia in the river,” said Schmidt.
He added that although it was not officially confirmed, dog owners should be cautious when taking their pets into the forest.
Good Hope SPCA chief spokeswoman Belinda Abraham said they had received no complaints from dog owners on the river in Tokai.
The SPCA’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Rivona Ramnanan, said giardia was typically transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated water or food containing cysts of the parasite.
Ramnanan said:
In the case of dogs that fall ill after swimming and playing in the river, it is likely that they have ingested water contaminated with giardia cysts.
She said symptoms of giardia infection in dogs could include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss and lethargy.
“To prevent giardia infection in animals, it is essential to avoid letting them drink or swim in potentially contaminated water sources, such as rivers, ponds or streams,” said Ramnanan.
According to the veterinarian, dogs should have clean drinking water when they are outside, and pet owners should be cautious when allowing them to consume something from unknown sources.
“If your dog shows symptoms of illness, especially after being in water sources where giardia may be present, it is crucial to consult a veterinarian promptly for diagnosis and treatment,” said Ramnanan.
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Cape Town mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said there had been no giardia complaints.
“The City needs the exact location where this alleged incident occurred to determine which stakeholder monitors this area. Some sections of the river are maintained by SANParks, while others are monitored by the City of Cape Town,” said Badroodien.
SANParks spokeswoman Lauren Howard-Clayton said they were not aware of giardia in the water.
