A MAN said he had to have his two-year-old Labrador put down after it became ill swimming in the sea in Studland.

Matt Waterhouse, 46, took his dog Winnie to Studland, but when she became ill a few days later, a vet had to put her down.

He said: “Since it happened, I have seen and read nothing but things where people have had issues in the sea.

“What happened to us was very sad, it’s hit us like a train, God forbid it happens to a child or an elderly swimmer.

“If this can help someone it means my dog didn’t die in vain.

“There are too many incidents like this for it not to be related, it is all a bit closely linked.

“It is really worrying. Not just for the visitors, but for residents, dog walkers, the kids and the impact [the sea condition] is having on the wildlife.

“It is quite a significant issue with lots of ramifications.”

Matt said he and his partner Julie were at the beach for a couple of hours and Julie felt unwell after going in the sea as well.

He said Winnie had a grumbly tummy on the evening after the swim but less than a week later they found her led on the floor surrounded in vomit and faeces.

Matt continued: “My other half took her for her morning walk and went to work.

“When she got back, she phoned me and said, ‘you need to come home now’. The dog was on the kitchen floor covered in faeces and vomit.

We got her to the vets and they put her on IV. The next morning we got a phone call that the dog was up in her feet and we thought we were out the woods.

“The vet then phoned me and said we had two options, we could look at blood transfusion or do the kindest thing and help her on her way. And she was put to sleep.

“Dogs are part of the family, I don’t want someone else to go through what we’ve been through.”

Matt said Winnie had an intestinal bug.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said the results of their bathing water sample checks were “excellent” and there were no sewage spills on or before the day Matt went to the beach.

They added: “Knowing more about water quality can help beachgoers decide when and where to go. We encourage everyone to make checking our bathing water quality website part of their routine before making a trip.

“If anyone sees pollution in rivers or the sea and has any concerns contact our incident hotline on 0800 807060.”