Can anyone identify large water rodents seen on a camp site near Florence Italy. They were the size of small dogs.Looked a bit like beavers but their tails were like rats tails.Had long whiskers?

Probably an Otter check out the following web address it ful of pitures of Otters. google.com.au/images?hl=en&q=otter&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2">http://images.google.com.au/images?hl=en&q=otter&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2