A vet is warning pet owners to be cautious when it comes to handing out toys following a spate of emergencies.
In the last month, three poorly dogs had to undergo operations at Inglis Veterinary Hospital to remove toy parts they had swallowed.
They survived, but many others have not been so fortunate, prompting the Dunfermline-headquartered vets to issue a warning to owners.
Head nurse Denise Docherty said: “Cases like these could result in potentially life-threatening issues and the longer it’s left, the worse it could get.”
Worried owner Anne Crawford rushed her one-year-old boxer Tinker to Inglis as her pet was repeatedly being sick.
An x-ray found a ball lodged in her stomach, so she was whisked away for an operation immediately.
Denise said: “Poor Tinker, like many other dogs her age, loves to chew toys, and in this case ended up swallowing whole a toy she was given at Christmas.
“It’s possible the toy had been in her stomach for some time and Tinker’s owner had become worried after seeing her repeatedly vomiting – which is often the first sign that something is wrong.”
Thankfully, she was well enough to go home after a few days in hospital.
In the same week Chica, a female German Shepherd, was also brought to Inglis having swallowed bits of a solid ball toy which she had chewed in half.
It had to be removed from the dog’s stomach and intestine before the pet was well enough to be discharged.
And in another incident, an English bull terrier was given an emergency operation after swallowing a toy duck’s head.
The dog required a complicated operation and is now at home recovering.
Denise added: “Although all three dogs made a recovery, sadly that’s not always the case and we would strongly advise owners to call their vet as soon as possible if they think their pet has ingested something they shouldn’t have.”
Symptoms to look for include vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or the animal being unable to finish their food as the object is causing a blockage.
“As an owner, it’s definitely good practice to be selective about the toys you give your pets to play with.”
Owners should ensure they aren’t small enough to be ingested or have parts which would break off easily.
Dogs can also choke on squeakers that they manage to remove from the inside of toys.
