Sharp lesson for pet pooch

A “thieving” pet dog from Shropshire has been given a sharp reminder of the dangers of chewing inedible objects.

Louie the beagle ended up on the vet’s operating table after he swallowed a large sewing needle which experts say could have killed him.

Sue Mitchell, Louie’s owner, said the drama unfolded as she sewed at home in Cottage Drive, Shifnal.

Mrs Mitchell, a clerical officer at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital, said: “I just turned around for a second when I saw Louie grab hold of my needle pad. He eventually dropped it, but I saw a needle go into his mouth and he swallowed it.

“I panicked and phoned my husband Andy to ask what I should do. He told me to phone a vet and they told me to wait until the next day and they would X-ray him.

“It was terrible, we had only had him for two weeks and he is a rescue dog. He doesn’t chew much, but is a real thief. He likes to grab hold of things and won’t let them go. Sometimes h

“Fortunately the operation went well and Louie was fine after about 24 hours. Hopefully he will learn not to be such a thief, however he is a bit adventurous.”

Mrs Mitchell said she, her husband Andy and their children, Carl, 16, and Georgia, 14, were delighted to have Louie back to full health again. The 15-month-old pooch was treated at Companion Care veterinary surgery, inside the Pets at Home store, Wrekin Retail Park, Telford.

Barry Jacob, vet, said: “We X-rayed Louie as soon as he was brought into the surgery and we could see it appeared to be in the stomach. It was too risky to leave it there, so we undertook an emergency operation to remove it.ÊIt went very well and we had the needle out and Louie stitched up in around two hours. We are pleased to report Louie has now fully recovered.

“We see this more often in cats, but it is rare in dogs and it was potentially very serious because if the needle had perforated the intestines it may have caused a peritonitis-infection of the abdominal cavity.

“Owners need to be very careful, as this sort of thing can happen all too easily. If foreign objects are removed too late, irreparable fatal damage can be done.”

By Iain St John