Vet issues urgent warning over potentially lethal dog toy

One vet has issued an urgent warning to dog owners after a Labrador puppy needed urgent surgery because he swallowed a common toy many will have lying around the house.

The five-month-old pooch needed to have 70 per cent of his small intestine removed because he had gobbled down an entire rope toy which a visitor left behind.

Speaking to the Mirror, Dr Sheldon Steinmetz, from Connecticut, revealed the ‘devastating’ consequences of the mishap for little Rango.

‘Once the strand of rope gets into the small intestine it is almost impossible for it to pass naturally,’ he told the outlet.

‘I would say that he had a 15 per cent chance of survival due to how sick he was and the damage that had been done.’

Rango thankfully survived the ordeal, and although he was initially struggling with food, the pup has now made a full recovery.

Any dog owners concerned that their dog has swallowed something they shouldn’t have are advised to contact the vet immediately, PetMD warns.

An expert nutritionist at pet food company Tuggs has also urged those with pups to be wary of what toys they have around.

What’s more, she stressed the importance of keeping a close eye on your pet while they play, training them to leave objects which are off limits and providing them with safer options. 

‘Dogs have a natural instinct to chew, and it’s not uncommon for them to chew or even swallow toys that catch their attention,’ Katie McCaul (BSc DipNat VN ANutR told the Mirror.

She added that the results of your four-tailed friend swallowing a toy could be ‘deadly’ so make sure to monitor them for ‘signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, or loss of appetite’.

It comes as a vet has warned that artificial lawns could leave your pooch with painful burns this summer.

Some may be surprised to hear that fake grass – which absorbs and retains heat very well – is a common culprit for this.

Any dog owners concerned that their dog has swallowed something they shouldn’t have are advised to contact the vet immediately, PetMD warns. Stock image used

Dr Sarah-Jane Molier, based in the Greater Oxford Area, told Pets Radar that burns – especially if they’re severe – are not only painful for your pet, but can take a long time to heal and put your pooch at risk of infection.

She advised that as temperatures begin to soar it’s important to look out for other hot surfaces too, including asphalt and concrete pavements.

If you and your four-legged friend enjoy a seaside stroll, Dr Molier recommends watching out for dry sand on beaches.

And it’s not just heat either – chemicals from lawn pesticides and bleaches, used to tend to your garden, could leave your pup with chemical burns.

The vet stressed that even melted ice and products which contain salt could do ‘serious damage if you’re not careful’.

According to PetMD, symptoms of paw burns include limping or a ‘red, ulcerated or clear pad’.

Your dog may lick its injured paw, hold it abnormally or vocalise while stepping on the injured leg. 

The pet health hub advises that burns are generally easy to spot on your dog, and – much like in humans – can result in blisters which may rupture a few days later.