A GREEDY Labrador has recovered from life-saving surgery after vets discovered she had eaten a stone the size of a ping-pong ball.
Barley, a one-year-old golden Labrador, was taken to the new Galedin Vets practice at Putton Mill in Duns after becoming ill.
Owners Amy and Richard Simmonds became concerned when their usually lively, bouncy pet began vomiting, refused to eat or get out of her bed, and hadn’t gone to the loo.
When vet Alice Jenkins examined Barley, she could feel a hard, solid object in her tummy, and an x-ray revealed a mysterious foreign body stuck in her intestine, requiring immediate emergency surgery.
During the operation, Alice discovered Barley has swallowed a stone that may have been there for several days.
Galedin Vets, which is part of UK and European veterinary group, VetPartners, which is led by vets, is now warning owners to be cautious when walking their dogs and to immediately contact their vet practice if they think their pet may have swallowed a stone.
Alice said: “Thankfully, Barley has recovered well and was soon back to her bouncy self, but it could have been very different if her owners had not acted quickly and brought her in.
“Because the stone was stuck in her intestine, the only option was surgery to remove it. If a foreign body like a stone was left for a long time, it could cause irreversible damage. It can perforate the intestines or result in some of the intestines having to be removed which carries a high risk.”
Alice added: “We’d urge owners to be cautious if their dogs are picking up stones and try to distract them with treats or a toy. We’d also advise people not to throw stones on a walk in case their pets end up swallowing them or damage their teeth.”
Barley’s owners paid tribute to the veterinary practice after the lively Lab made a full recovery, and they are now being extra-vigilant to ensure their much-loved pet is not tempted to eat stones.
Richard said: “Barley loves to pick up pebbles in our garden and throw them around, but this was a bigger stone. We don’t know where she found it or when she picked it up on her walk as she likes to run ahead.
“She was really not herself over a weekend as she was sick and never left her bed or ate anything. We knew there was something wrong with her and we weren’t overly surprised when we were told it was a stone.
“We’re being extra-vigilant and she’s wearing a muzzle in the garden unless we’re playing ‘fetch’ with a toy. Hopefully she will learn not to pick up stones.
“We’re so grateful to Galedin Vets as they really looked after her and provided an excellent service. She’s now completely back to her old self.”