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Dog saved from stomach full of gravel

A young dog has been saved by PDSA vets after filling her stomach full of gravel from her ownerโ€™s garden.

Bella, a one-year-old French bulldog, was rushed into the vet charityโ€™s pet hospital in Croydon after her owner, Victoria Sherrin, noticed she had suddenly gone off her food and was being constantly sick.

When PDSA vets examined the stricken pet they could feel something in her abdomen and Victoria (37) of Chipstead, Surrey, immediately feared the worst.

She said: โ€œI took Bella for a check-up because she wasnโ€™t herself at all. She started snapping at us and couldnโ€™t keep anything down.

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โ€œI wondered if sheโ€™d eaten something odd or had worms but then the vets said they could feel a mass in her stomach and I just broke down.โ€

PDSA vet, Laura Heaps, said: โ€œBellaโ€™s condition was very worrying, she was very lethargic and was suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. We examined her and could feel something in her stomach and to be sure what it was, we x-rayed her.

โ€œThankfully, weโ€™d just received a new ยฃ10,000 x-ray machine, thanks to funding from players of Peopleโ€™s Postcode Lottery, and the images were very detailed. When we saw the images on the screen we couldnโ€™t believe our eyes!

โ€œYou could clearly see the gravel in her stomach and colon. Luckily because the stones were so small and unlikely to cause a fatal blockage we were able to avoid surgery.ย  Flat-faced breeds such as French bulldogs are a higher anaesthetic risk than other breeds.โ€

Bella was given fluids and laxatives to try and flush her system of the gravel stones and was kept in overnight for close observation. Thankfully, she made a good recovery and was allowed home the following day after receiving the all clear.

With Bella safely back home, relieved owner Victoriaย said: โ€œBella was out of sorts for a couple of days but she was soon was back to her normal self. I canโ€™t thank PDSA enough for the fantastic treatment she received. Iโ€™m keeping a close eye on her now to make sure it doesnโ€™t happen again.

โ€œSheโ€™s quite an inquisitive dog and is into everything so Iโ€™ve cleared the garden to try and ensure there are no gravel stones she can get her little paws on.โ€

PDSA sees many cases of pets eating inappropriate items every year. These can be fatal if they cause a blockage in the intestines. Owners are advised to speak to their vet for advice if they suspect their pet has eaten something it shouldnโ€™t have.

For more pet health advice visitย www.pdsa.org.uk

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