Vet's warning as Lily saved twice

RESCUE DOG SWALLOWED STONE FROM OWNER'S GARDEN

- KIRSTIE MCCRUM

A VET is warning dog owners not to let their hounds play with stones after having to perform life-saving surgery twice on the same pet in the last year.

Four-year-old rescue dog Lily became seriously ill from swallowing stones from her owner's garden in Looe.

She first underwent surgery a year ago, then disaster struck again last month and Lily's owner rushed her to Calweton Veterinary Group when her beloved pet became unwell and started vomiting.

Vets at the practice have warned owners to be vigilant and to try to avoid pets picking up and playing with stones.

Vet Anna King, who performed Lily's second surgery, said if the stone hadn't been removed it could have led to sepsis or a ruptured intestine.

Anna said: "Lily had been vomiting and not passing faeces, which are common signs of an obstruction in the intestine caused by a foreign object. On examination, I could feel a hard lump in her abdomen and an X-ray identified an oval mass, similar in size to a small stone.