Dog owners are being warned of deadly palm oil fatbergs washing up on beaches in Fingal

Dog walkers are being urged to watch out for potentially deadly 'fatbergs' which are washing up on beaches following recent storms.

Dogs love the smell of palm oil, but eating the fatbergs could kill them.

Palm oil is a white or yellow waxy substance that smells strongly of diesel or firelighters. It's poisonous to pets, and in its solid form can cause stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs, which can prove fatal.

The oil, which is found in soap, shampoo and food, is harmless to humans.

Balbriggan.net received the following statement from Fingal County Council

February 15, 2017

Council advises public to be vigilant for

'Palm Oil Fatbergs'

Fingal County Council has issued a warning for people to be vigilant for ‘Palm Oil Fatbergs’ which may be washed up along the coast as they can be particularly dangerous to dogs.

A photo of one of the 'Palm Oil Fatbergs' which was washed ashore at Hoare's Rock, Skerries

A number were found on Sunday at Hoare’s Rock, Skerries, and results from laboratory tests have showed that the substance was Palm Oil. It is believed that the Palm Oil was part of a consignment which came off a ship in the English Channel about 18 months ago and was washed ashore by the weekend storm. The congealed substance has been turning up sporadically on beaches and coasts in England but this is the first time it has been recorded in Fingal.

A Fingal County Council spokesperson said: “We believe the discovery of this material in Skerries on Sunday is an isolated incident as we have not had any other sightings along the Fingal coastline. The material is a solid white substance which is known as a ‘Palm Oil Fatberg’ and they can range in size from being as small as a golf ball to as big as a boulder. We are asking the public to be vigilant as this substance can be harmful to dogs."