Weekender Alicante North Issue 106

36 FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST 2019
www.weekender.news
Pets
Food for
thought
DOG-LOVERS are being
urged to take care when
it comes to firing up the
Barbie after warnings
of the dangers al-fresco
cooking poses to man’s
best friend.
The warning comes after
a British Veterinary Association
(BVA) survey of its
members revealed a quarter
of them had had treated pets
for injuries caused by barbecues
last summer.
The most common barbecue
injuries were a result
of pets eating corn cobs, followed
closely by damage to
the mouth or internal injuries
from kebab skewers and
cooked bones.
Vets also reported treating
dogs for burns received
from eating hot food off the
grill or touching the barbecue
or hot coals.
In one case, a dog required
surgery to remove obstruction
caused by cooked corn
on the cob and the metal
skewers used to hold it.
Another vet reported seeing
two wooden skewer ingestion
cases last summer,
one of them a result of barbecue
remains left behind in
a public park.
One vet said: “Owners still
think corn on the cob is ‘natural’
so it can’t cause issues,
but I have seen worse gut
reactions to corn on the cobs
than to pointy toys, cocktail
picks or remote controls.”
Several vets also reported
seeing cases of gastrointestinal
upset or pancreatitis
caused by pets being fed one
greasy sausage too many.
In one extreme case, a
puppy died from inhalation
pneumonia after it tried to
swallow a burger but ended
up inhaling it instead.
And a nine-year-old
English Setter’s scavenging
during a barbecue led
to her needing surgery
last summer.
Vets discovered 16-cen-
timetre kebab skewer protruding
through her abdominal
wall. She made a
complete recovery.
BVA junior vice president
Daniella Dos Santos said:
“Dogs are well known scavengers
and will eat anything
they think is a tasty morsel.
“Corn itself is not poisonous
to dogs, but a cob can
cause an obstruction which
can have devastating effects
on the digestive system,
such as intestinal rupture.
“If an owner has any
concerns that their dog
has eaten something it
should not have done, we’d
advise contacting a local
vet immediately.
“We’d also urge anyone
having a barbecue to keep
other greasy meats, kebab
skewers and bones well out
of reach of inquisitive pets,
as these can cause serious
injury or illness that often
requires medical treatment
or even surgery.
“If you’re having a barbecue
in a public space like a
park, please clean up any
leftover food and skewers to
make sure other dogs don’t
accidentally swallow them.”
Adoption Corner
BETSY – Just look at Betsy now
after lots of TLC. Her story has been
featured in the press and she is now
a happy, healthy dog who will be
a real treasure for whoever adopts
her. She is about 3 years old and a
Shar Pei cross. Lovely nature, happy
and friendly. She has Leish which is
under control with medication and
she needs her forever home.
DOTTIE – This beautiful Pointer
cross is almost 3 years old and has
been spayed and micro chipped.
She loves to go for walks and be
made a fuss of and would make a
great companion. We really hope
that a good family will adopt her
and give her the love and attention
she deserves.
NO ADOPTION FEE ALTHOUGH A
DONATION IS APPRECIATED. Food
and donations also urgently needed
and can be left at ARC’s charity
shop on Carrer Valencia 1, Jalon
between 10 am & 1.00 pm Monday
to Saturday. Contact Tel No Sally:
625 985 689 Email jalonvalleyarc14@
yahoo.co.uk. Facebook – Jalon
Valley A.R.C. Charity Reg No CV-01-
054107-A.
PETS IN SPAIN
Caramelo is a 3 month old kitten
looking for her forever home. She is
in excellent health and is good with
other cats, dogs and children.
Tel: 645 469 253
Web: www.petsinspain.com
Email: info@petsinspain.com
Since
1977