Your Dog — November 2017

http://www.yourdog.co.uk Your Dog November 2017 9

A young Staffordshire Bull

Terrier dodged death after

an 11-inch stick became

lodged in her throat when

a game of fetch went

disastrously wrong.

PDSA vets say it was

a miracle that the stick

avoided major arteries, as it

pierced through one-year-old

Brandy’s mouth, travelled

through her throat, and

ended up in her chest.

Owner Sophia-Jayne Lye

said Brandy was playing with

her daughter, Soe, at their

London home when she

suddenly heard screaming.

She says: “I rushed out

and saw Brandy lying there

with a huge stick coming

out of her chest. It was

unbelievable. Luckily, she was

still breathing, but I knew she

needed urgent help.”

Brandy was taken to the

PDSA’s Thamesmead Pet

Hospital, where vets rushed

the dog to surgery.

PDSA pet hospital lead,

Laura Davey, says: “When

we saw Brandy, we couldn’t

believe she was still alive. It

was a huge stick and it had

travelled through her mouth

and throat and into her chest,

narrowly missing her lungs.”

The prognosis was not

good and the family endured

a tense wait while Brandy

spent nearly four hours

under anaesthetic.

Sophia-Jayne says: “The

vets told us to expect the

worst, but amazingly Brandy

made it through the surgery.

The PDSA did a fantastic job,

and she has made a fantastic

recovery. We can’t thank

them enough for what they

have done.”

On average, the PDSA

sees stick-related injuries

on a weekly basis across its

48 pet hospitals. Injuries

include wounds to the mouth

and throat, choking, and

intestinal blockages.

Staffi e cheats death

after game of fetch

ends in horror

Brandy has

now made a full

UK dogs at risk of recovery.

eye worm infection

An eye worm infection that causes blindness in dogs, cats, and

people could spread to the UK, scientists have warned.

Thelazia callipaeda, or oriental eye worm, is transmitted by

a type of fruit fl y which lands on the eye, feeds on eye secretions,

and deposits infective larvae. The infection can cause blindness

and even lead to death.

There have been three cases of imported eye worm infection

in dogs reported in the UK. One dog was imported from

Romania and the other two contracted the disease while visiting

Europe. Thankfully, all made a full recovery after treatment.

British Veterinary Association president, Gudrun Ravetz, says:

“Dog owners will understandably be feeling anxious about the

reported cases. The Pet Travel Scheme has made the transport

of pets between the UK and Europe easier for owners, yet it

is vital that owners fully understand the health risks that could

affect their pets before travelling abroad, how to prevent

diseases, and what symptoms to look out for just in case.

“Conjunctivitis, one of the signs of this eye worm, is very

common in dogs but if owners have recently returned from

a country where Thelazia callipaeda is endemic then they should

be vigilant about checking their dogs’ eyes.

“If owners have any concerns about their dog or notice

any conjunctivitis, signs of discomfort or, at worst, worms in

or around their dogs’ eyes, then they should contact their vet

immediately.” Other symptoms to look out for include excessive

watering, visual impairment, and ulcers or scarring of the cornea.

factor in the apparent

increase in allergic canine

skin conditions.

Boxers were found to

have the highest number

of reported conditions

compared to the average

across all breeds, with skin

cancer or tumours being the

most commonly reported.

The second highest was the

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

with heart murmurs most

commonly reported, while

the Pug was the third highest

with corneal ulcers as the

top condition.

The Labrador was found

to have the lowest number

of reported conditions

compared to the average

across all breeds, and this

was followed by the Cocker

Spaniel and Border Terrier.

Dr Katy Evans, Kennel

Club Health Research

Manager, one of the

authors of the study,

said: “Dogs of any breed or

cross-breed can suffer from

health conditions. These

results will substantially

contribute to the current

understanding of disorder

occurrence in UK dogs and

will be a massive help to

owners, as it gives an

idea of what to look out

for, particularly if their

breed has a higher than

average incidence of

a certain condition.”

The fi ndings will

form part of the Kennel

Club’s Breed Health and

Conservation Plans. The full

study has been published

in the Canine Genetics and

Epidemiology journal.

The Labrador.

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