Dog owners warned over jellyfish

Dog owners warned over jellyfish
A Lion's Mane jellyfish washed up on the shore.

Dog owners in County Down have been warned to be careful of their pets after large numbers of Lion’s Mane jellyfish were washed ashore at Cloughey.

Record temperatures this summer are behind unusually high blooms of jellyfish around the coast of the British Isles. The Lion’s Mane variety, while not deadly, delivers a severe sting which could well put a human in hospital.

The warning to pet owners came from Portaferry Coastguard rescue team after hundreds of Lion’s Mane jellyfish were found at Cloughey.

‘Anyone finding a Lion’s Mane jellyfish washed up on the beach should be aware that the tentacles of this species retain their potent sting long after the jellyfish has died,’ said a post on the Coastguard’s Facebook page.

The post advised anyone whose dog was stung by a jellyfish to seek urgent veterinary attention as an anaphylactic reaction is not uncommon.