A puppy found itself in a veterinary emergency when it got a bone stuck in its jaw, prompting its owner to issue a warning to others.
Henrietta Barnard had purchased the bone for her eight-month-old Boxweiler puppy, Nancy, to help with teething. She had left the pup alone with the knuckle joint, hoping it would keep her occupied for the day.
However, later that evening, Henrietta noticed a horseshoe-shaped bone wedged in Nancy’s jaw. In a state of panic, she rushed the dog to an emergency vet.
Veterinary professionals report an increase in similar incidents across the country in recent months.
Henrietta, who resides in Kingsley near Alton, Hampshire, shared her experience, saying, “Nancy chews a lot, and at dog training, they suggested we get her a knuckle joint. It was huge, so we didn’t think for a moment there would be any problem.”
“But she managed to break a horseshoe-shaped piece off without us noticing until later that evening when it got locked in her mouth. It was trapped behind her front teeth and then hooked under her jaw. She couldn’t get it out and it was well and truly wedged.”
“My husband tried to slip it free, but it was stuck solid and she was starting to scrape to get it off and getting in quite a state.”
Thankfully, after the vet’s intervention, Nancy emerged from the ordeal with minor discomfort.
Henrietta, a mother of three, commented, “Nancy was a bit groggy when she came out, but otherwise none the worse, thankfully. Everyone at the clinic was amazing, and we were so grateful they were there when we needed them.”
In light of this incident, Henrietta has decided to ban bones for her dog and opt for sturdy chew toys instead. She also wants to caution other dog owners about the potential risks associated with giving bones to dogs.
Dogs can face issues like blockages caused by bone splinters or large pieces becoming lodged in their digestive tract when they chew on bones. Vets are now urging owners to choose safer chew toys over natural bones due to the rise in similar incidents.
Amelie Brewer, a Vets Now nurse, described the situation, saying, “When Nancy came in, she was very distressed and panicked, and we gave her some pain relief to relax her.”
“The vet and myself tried to prise the bone off, but it was obviously still causing pain. We gave her further quick-acting medication to sedate her and were able to prise it off after a few minutes.”
