Vet's urgent warning to pet owners after dog swallows part of vape

A BRADFORD veterinary practice has issued an urgent warning after saving the life of a young dog who had swallowed part of an e-cigarette.

Cocker spaniel Biscuit was taken to Shearbridge Veterinary Centre in Queensbury when her owner became concerned that she was off her food and had started to vomit.

Clinical director Sarah Reeves examined the one-year-old and was surprised to feel an unusual object in her abdomen which an x-ray scan revealed to be square in shape with holes, like a button.

Biscuit underwent a delicate two-hour operation to remove the foreign object which had become lodged in her small intestines.

The offending item was small and squidgy with a groove around the edges and is thought to have been part of a rubber seal from a vape.

Sarah with the offending object after it had been surgically removed from Biscuit (Image: VetPartners)

Thanks to the skills and expertise of the Shearbridge Vets team, Biscuit was back home the same day and is back to her lively self following weeks of rest and gentle exercise.

Sarah praised owner, Carol Hutton, for taking Biscuit to Shearbridge Vets when she realised something was wrong, and she is now urging other owners to seek prompt advice from their vet if they fear their dog may have swallowed a foreign object.

Symptoms to be aware of include possible lack of appetite and vomiting.

Sarah said: "The surgery was very timely because the object had become wedged in the small intestines and the area was getting very bruised.

"If there had been any delay it was at risk of rupturing which could have been fatal.

"I would urge smokers to dispose of their e-cigarettes carefully.

"E-cigarettes probably smell really good to a dog and may also have a flavour.

"This probably had a chewy texture as well which would have made it even more appealing.

"A bigger dog may have pooped it out but in a smaller pet like Biscuit, who is 9kg, this could have caused a dangerous obstruction.

"I have been a vet for nearly 20 years, and I have never seen a case like this before."

Shearbridge Veterinary Centre has been part of Queensbury for more than 30 years.

Its website states: "Many of our clients have been coming to us for tens of years, and it’s been fantastic getting to know them and their various companions."