A beagle puppy has become the first dog in Scotland to be treated by a vet after eating a legal high.

Aramis, who is ten months old, collapsed "twitching and unable to stand" after he was found chewing on a packet believed to contain a powder or pill designed to imitate a class A drug.

The incident happened on Kinnaber Beach near Montrose in Angus.

Within 30 minutes of ingesting the substance, Aramis was described as "off his legs and with his eyes rolling".

Like in humans, "legal highs" can cause high heart rates and temperature rises in dogs.

Experts at animal rescue charity the Scottish SPCA said they had never heard of a previous case.

Aramis' owners rushed him to the Robson Veterinary Hospital in Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, where he was kept overnight and given intravenous fluids.

Vet Ian Anderson said it was the first time he had treated a dog that had consumed a new psychoactive substance (NPS), which are to be banned under draft UK-wide legislation.

Mr Anderson, 51, said Aramis suffered "no long-term damage or effects".

He said: "He was spaced out. He wasn't able to sit down or stand up. He was twisting and turning and his heart rate was very fast.

"Quite a lot of the time we get dogs who eat things they shouldn't but this is the first time I have ever seen a dog eat a legal high."

He added: "Fortunately, our client's fast action to get him medical attention meant we were able to treat Aramis effectively and he is now recovering at home, but the experience was extremely traumatic both for Aramis and his owners who spent a sleepless night worrying he would never come home .

"Please be extra vigilant when walking your dogs particularly in this area as these drugs are extremely dangerous to both humans and animals as their ingredients often contain banned substances not intended for human or animal consumption."

A spokesman for the Robson Veterinary Hospital added that there had also been reports that another dog owner had come across needles while walking their pet on the coast at nearby Inverbervie.

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