A worried dog owner whose year old Labrador became seriously ill after swimming in the Dart is warning other pet owners to beware.

A vet has confirmed that at least two dogs have been treated for gastroenteritis after being exercised on the beach at Warfleet Creek, Dartmouth, during the period of heavy rain last month.

Now South West Water has admitted there are several outfalls in the creek area, including a sewage pumping station emergency overflow.

Janice Matthews, who lives in Above Town, Dartmouth, was exercising her Labrador Sweep at Warfleet Creek on July 17.

'He became ill that night, suffering from terrible diarrhoea and sickness,' she said.

Sweep had to have injections and courses of antibiotics and vitamins.

Sweep only began taking 'proper food' two weeks later, said Janice.

'It has been awful. Sweep has been dreadfully ill,' she added.

Janice said she knew a second dog owner whose pet had become ill with exactly the same symptoms after going into the water at Warfleet Creek – and said she feared they were more. I felt someone ought to bring it to other dog owners' attention so they can choose for themselves whether to exercise their dogs there,' she said.

Colin Hair, of Dart Vale Veterinary Group in Roseville Street, Dartmouth, said he had treated two dogs which had become ill after going into the Dart at Warfleet Creek.

'They had gastroenteritis. Both were poorly and both recovered. I think the important question you would have to ask is whether there is a sewage outfall down there,' he said.

A spokeswoman for South West Water confirmed there were outfalls in the area of Warfleet Creek and warned that the risks of pollution increase during periods of heavy rain.

She said: 'There are several outfalls in Warfleet Creek. There is a combined sewer overflow, designed to protect homes and gardens from sewer flooding at times of heavy rain, which discharges beyond Halftide Rock. The emergency overflow from Warfleet Creek sewage pumping station discharges near the slipway.

'Neither of these two South West Water overflows is monitored because Warfleet Creek is not a bathing or shellfish water.

'There is also a surface water sewer which discharges near the disused lime kiln and at least one privately owned sewage discharge into the creek.

'Water quality can be affected by several factors including agricultural pollution and urban drainage as well as water companies' infrastructure.

'The Health Protection Agency advises that these risks are increased during times of heavy rainfall, when fertiliser and debris from roads – including salt during the winter, as well as dog faeces etc – are washed into rivers, streams and surface water drains and into the sea.

'Combined sewer overflows are also designed to operate at times of heavy rain.'