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SUN PRAIRIE – Health officials in Sun Prairie are warning residents to keep their children and pets out of a local park after a dog died of suspected strychnine poisoning.

Kate Marone with the City-County Health Department says the department received word Monday that a dog died from what a veterinarian believed was strychnine poisoning after playing in Grant Park on Friday.

The pesticide — banned in 1988 — causes muscular convulsions in animals and can eventually lead to death. It was once used to treat stomach ailments in humans, but Marone says even a low or moderate dose can cause muscle spasms, liver or kidney damage and difficulty breathing.

Kelly Leitheiser says her son and 7-year-old dog, Rocky, were playing in the park for about 20 minutes before the dog went into convulsions and died.