30/04/2009 by Arielle.

I thought I’d share  this story with you that I found to show how a vet’s day is never boring!

Vets were stunned when X-rays revealed the source of a dog’s stomach illness - a Homer Simpson figure.

The plastic toy was inside a chocolate egg eaten by 10-year-old Dixie.

The Dalmatian-collie needed emergency surgery to remove Homer from her intestine.

Dixie’s owner, Victoria Keir, 42, from Aberdeen, said she took the dog to the city’s PDSA PetAid hospital after she stopped eating and became unwell.

PDSA veterinary surgeon Alison Hamel said: “Dixie was very ill when she was brought in. She had lost a lot of weight and was extremely dehydrated.

“We needed to discover quickly what was wrong to provide the right treatment in time.

“The X-rays confirmed there was a foreign body but it was a big surprise to discover a plastic egg shell with Homer Simpson inside.

“We see many objects that have been swallowed but this has to be one of the most unusual.

“Dixie came through surgery without any complications but if it had been left any longer, it could have proved fatal.”

The dog was kept in for two days following her operation and prescribed a special diet for a fortnight to help her gain weight and aid her recovery.

Ms Keir said: “I can see the funny side now but at the time it was extremely traumatic and I’m very grateful to the PDSA for saving her life.”

Posted in A veterinary day | No Comments »

16/04/2009 by Arielle.

It is the easter holidays and I took my children to see the film ‘Marley and Me’. Both my son and daughter had read the book and were really excited when the film came out as they all love animals and anything to do with them.

We really enjoyed it;  although maybe a bit too much kissing for my 11 and 13 year old sons. The story is of Marley - a golden Labrador and his life from being a puppy to his death. He is eventually put to sleep due to a twisted stomach. It is a true story and this is a relatively common emergency in most large breed dogs.

I cried along with many other sniffing people in the cinema around me as they drew out the whole ending of Marley’s life in true american style - with really good acting and flashbacks to the young Marley. There was just one mistake they made which dog owners should be aware of if they ever have to be there at the end and sadly witness their dog’s euthanasia. When the lethal injection is given, Marley’s eyes closed as he slipped away. This does not happen. A dog (or cat’s eyes) remain open and their pupils dilate and it is usually not easy to even close their lids once they have gone. I have  had a few owners expecting their pets to close their eyes when they slip away and sadly the film has given them this misconception as well.

Posted in Being a Mum and a vet | No Comments »

12/04/2009 by Arielle.

 An Easter-egg hunt proved to be anything but fun for a sweet-toothed Labrador called Buster.

The five-stone pooch ended up with chocolate poisoning after wolfing down a stash of chocolate eggs which he found hidden away in his owner’s spare room.

Five-year-old Buster had to be taken to animal hospital where he was admitted to intensive care after devouring 12 eggs and their foil wrapping.

Buster’s owner, Brenda Dawes, bought the eggs as Easter treats for her grandchildren.

She said: “When I arrived home one afternoon, Buster came down the stairs, wagging his tail and licking his lips. I knew immediately he’d been up to something.

“He’s a terror and chews everything he gets his paws on - mobile phones, video tapes, the remote control.”

At first, Buster did not appear to be affected by his binge. However, Ms Dawes was woken in the early hours of the morning by the pet’s cries.

“He couldn’t stand up, his back legs just kept buckling underneath him.

“His stomach was swollen and he was obviously in a lot of pain. Panicking, I called PDSA and they told me to bring him straight in.”

Ms Dawes immediately took the dog to animal charity PDSA’s PetAid hospital, near her home in Derby, where he was treated with fluids and kept in for round-the-clock observation.

Buster made a full recovery, but his ordeal has prompted animal welfare officials to issue a pre-Easter warning to anyone who keeps hungry hounds and chocolate under the same roof.

Senior veterinary surgeon Vicky Sims said: “Buster was quite lucky. Creme eggs have a fairly low theobromine content because they’re half fondant.

“Higher quality ‘posh’ chocolates are the most dangerous as they have high concentrated doses of theobromine - which poisons pets.

It seems that greedy Buster has a long way to go before he learns his lesson.

Ms Dawes said: “He’s already tried to eat a bag of crisps and a toilet roll since he’s been home - I’ll have to keep a close eye on him from now on to keep him out of trouble.”

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs usually appear within six to twelve hours of ingestion, and can last as long as 72 hours, the PDSA says.

Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal tenderness, restlessness and increased heart and breathing rate.

In severe cases there may be fits, heart beat irregularities or coma.

If dogs ingest a large quantity of chocolate and are left untreated, the poisoning can prove to be fatal.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »