12:00a.m. 21st February 2008

| By Alan Lander

Glen Butler from Wurtulla with Kundu on the beach where the pup picked up a toxic reaction to the foam in yesterdays surf. Photo:Barry Leddicoat 172892b

Photo Gallery: Return of the foam at Point Cartwright

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A red heeler cattle dog may have been poisoned by the sludgy, viscous foam which invaded Coast beaches for the second time on Monday.

The foam has been associated with pulmonary diseases in humans, according to a University of the Sunshine Coast study.

Wurtulla resident Glen Butler said he had taken his one-year-old dog Kundu to Wurtulla Beach on Monday.

“He was fully covered by foam as he played in the water,” Mr Butler said.

“It was in his ears, and afterward he was licking the foam off his legs and muzzle.”

But by later that day, Kundu started to show signs of illness.

“By about 8pm he went downhill,” Mr Butler said.

“He looked like he was on his deathbed.”

Kundu was taken to the all-night emergency vet at Tanawha, but the vet could not identify his ailment.

“He said it could be a toxin, it could be a brain tumour – he didn’t really know,” Mr Butler said.

“The effect was like a paralysis tick.”

Mr Butler took Kundu home, and fortunately the dog’s condition slowly improved.

“He slowly came good during the day,” Mr Butler said.

Kundu has generally good health other than a minor skin condition caused by an allergy, he said.

But Mr Butler is keeping Kundu restrained on the beach for the time being.

“(And) I’m not swimming in that ocean for now.”

The vet was not available for comment.

Photo Gallery: Even more foam at Caloundra

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