A Tauranga veterinarian is warning pet owners to keep their animals off the beaches until all the oil is cleaned up and they are re-opened.

The beach is closed from Leisure Point to Maketu, including the Maketu Estuary.

Mount Vet Hospital owner and Veterinarian surgeon Joerg Thamm checking Ruby's paw for oil.

Oil is also starting to wash up on beaches in the East Cape with reports of oil covered debris being found in Waihou Bay.

Papamoa resident Karen Retif lives on Alexander Avenue and says her dog became very sick when the oil was really bad on the beach last week.

'We had two nights when he was really sick. He was vomiting up a yellowy, foamy substance.

'We related it to that because he hadn't eaten anything different, he normally just has dry block, but you just never know.”

She says her friend's dog had similar symptoms the same night.
'We thought the smell was strong and causing them to have a bit of respiratory problems or stomach queasiness.

I live literally across the road from the beach on Alexander Ave.

Veterinarian surgeon Joerg Thamm says the oil is very toxic and can cause gastro intestinal problems if ingested.

'The best thing is for people to ring their vet and bring the animal in as soon as possible.

'If it's been ingested, it can cause all sorts of problems. We would try and make it (the animal) vomit to bring the oil up and out of its system.”

Joerg says he would also give them activated charcoal, as it's a general treatment for poisoning.

'People shouldn't do it themselves, they should bring their pets to the vet.”

He says dogs can also ingest oil by walking through and licking their paws.

If the oil is stuck to an animal's skin, Joerg says it could probably just be washed off.

'If it's just a little bit then they could wash it off themselves.

'If it's a lot then maybe bring the animal to the vet. But it depends if it's a dog or not because dogs are easier to wash than a cat.”
He says the best thing people can do is to keep their animals off the beach.

'Most people are quite sensible and keep their dogs off the beach anyway.”