Dog suffers horrific facial burns after sniffing dangerous plant on a walk

By Dami Adewale and Ben Turner via SWNS

A dog owner has issued a warning after his beloved pooch suffered horrific facial burns from a dangerous plant near his home.

Flat-coated retriever Winston, aged four, developed painful sores on his nose and left eye after sniffing around a suspected giant hogweed plant while on a walk this month.

His devastated owner Barry O’Connell, 75, has urged pet owners and parents to stay away from the plant, which is found throughout the United Kingdom.

Winston, who is an assistance dog for Barry, has since been put on antibiotics and has a cone around his head to aid his recovery.

Barry, an ex-military dog handler from Clacton, Essex, said: “Looking at him like this is like seeing a Rolls Royce breaking down.

"We live in a popular seaside area. You imagine letting your dog or children out and then they run into something like this and it's game over.

"I just can't understand why there aren't any warning signs. Not to scare people but to educate them."

Giant hogweed is a common, cow parsley-like plant that is often found along hedgerows in the UK.

The sap of the plant can cause burns to dogs and humans, with blistering potentially lasting for years, according to the Woodland Trust.

The charity advises avoiding physical contact with the plant where possible.