Your Dog 202003

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DOG

DATA

O

wners who exercise their dogs on

a popular beach in Merseyside are

being urged to be vigilant after a dog

died from ingesting what is thought to

be palm oil.

And now National Trust Formby,

which has since erected warning signs,

is reminding people not to let their

dogs eat anything on the beach and

to be aware of yellow, white, or grey

lumps with a rancid, diesel-like smell.

Large amounts of palm oil were

found along the same stretch of

shoreline — the Sefton coast — in

the summers of 2017 and 2018 after

washing up from a wrecked cargo ship.

Used in food, soaps, shampoos, and

biofuels, the substance is harmless

to humans, but highly toxic to dogs

and birds, who are attracted to it.

Anyone who suspects their dog has

eaten palm oil should seek veterinary

advice immediately as it can prove

fatal. Symptoms include vomiting

and diarrhoea, leading to severe

dehydration, while kidney damage,

liver failure, and gut blockages

can result from a dog consuming

larger amounts.

●Anyone who spots palm oil along

the Sefton coast is asked to report it

by calling 0151 934 2961.

10 Your Dog March 2020

The Sefton Coast.

An increasing

number

— nearly half

— of people

claim their next

pet will be from

a rescue centre,

rather than

a breeder

(13 per cent),

according to

research from

Vets4Pets.

PALM OIL WARNING

ON NORTH WEST COAST

Midnight mercy

dash saves

Pug’s life

W

hen Arthur the Pug fell

ill late one night with

breathing problems and

a swollen face, his owner Karen

Dyson feared the worst.

By the time she and husband David had

rushed their three-year-old dog to Vets Now

Hull, it was midnight.

“I think we were in shock that Arthur had got so

poorly so quickly,” said Karen, a retired nurse.

“The vet was in surgery, but she came to the

door to look, and knew she had to deal with

Arthur as soon as possible as he was in such

a bad way.”

Oxygen was administered and a full

examination carried out in an eff ort to stabilise

Arthur, address his laboured breathing, and

establish the problem.

“Arthur was panting and his face was swollen,

particularly on the left side, with his nostril closed

as a result,” explained emergency vet Susanna

Jauregui, who prescribed steroids.

After intensive one-to-one overnight care,

the medication started to take eff ect; Arthur’s

swelling subsided and his breathing improved.

Scans showed that he was suff ering from an

abscess on his head.

Following surgery, Arthur is now on the road

to recovery and Karen, 61, is grateful to the Vets

Now team for saving his life.

“They were absolutely brilliant,” she added.

“I was shedding a few tears, but they were so

kind and reassuring I felt we couldn’t be in

better hands.”

dash saves

Arthur with David.

Arthur had

breathing problems.