DONT THROW STICKS FOR DOGS! At Willows we not uncommonly see dogs that have sustained injuries to their mouths, necks and chests after picking up or chasing sticks thrown innocently by their owners. The sticks unfortunately often penetrate the back of the mouth and, depending of the length of the stick, can travel through the soft tissue and muscle of the neck all the way into the chest, resulting in a life-threatening injury. Affected dogs can be very ill by the time they reach us, needing intensive care as well as surgical intervention. Retrieving the stick, splinters of wood and associated soil/debris can be extremely challenging, and some patients require major exploratory surgery to remove any foreign material. You can see two examples of such unfortunate patients’ stories (fortunately both with happy endings!) at: willows.uk.net/news/m/news/view/347 willows.uk.net/news/m/news/view/325 In addition to the hazards of mixing dogs with sticks, tennis balls should be avoided in large breeds because they can cause choking. So, next time youre out in the park consider throwing a suitable soft rubber toy such as a Kong, or perhaps a Frisbee, instead of that stick! willows.uk.net/news/m/news/view/367
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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