Stolen snack left Dudley feeling ruff

Meet Dudley the Shropshire dog - who cheated death after wolfing down an avocado which fell to the floor as his master was preparing it to put in a salad. Meet Dudley the Shropshire dog - who cheated death after wolfing down an avocado which fell to the floor as his master was preparing it to put in a salad. Little could the hungry seven-year-old canine have known that he was dicing with death by devouring the fruit. Avocados contain persin, a toxin harmful to dogs if consumed in moderate or large amounts. The stone was retrieved from Dudley's small intestine in a 90-minute operation by vets at Haygate Veterinary Centre and Dudley is now back at home with his owner, 62-year-old retired lecturer David Burton, of New Church Road, Wellington, Telford. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star

Vet Rory Paton with Dudley and his owner David Burton. Meet Dudley the Shropshire dog - who cheated death after wolfing down an avocado which fell to the floor as his master was preparing it to put in a salad.

Little could the hungry seven-year-old canine have known that he was dicing with death by devouring the fruit. Avocados contain persin, a toxin harmful to dogs if consumed in moderate or large amounts.

Hours after his stolen snack the ginger labrador-Rhodesian ridgeback cross was refusing to eat.

So his owner, 62-year-old retired lecturer David Burton, took him to the vet.

Mr Burton, of New Church Road, Wellington, Telford, said: "Dudley thought the peeled avocado was for him and it vanished when it landed on the floor beside him. When he started refusing food I knew something must be wrong.

"It was very worrying because he's like a member of the family."

Vets treated Dudley for the poison and risk of intestinal obstruction caused by the golf ball-sized stone. They say the stone was retrieved from Dudley's small intestine in a 90-minute operation.

The decision to operate was made because vets were unsure how much avocado Dudley had eaten.

Afterwards they discovered the stone had travelled two thirds of the way along his gut and had caused "quite a lot of damage" and some internal bleeding.

He has now had his stitches out and is back at home recovering.

Mr Burton said: "I never realised avocados were dangerous for dogs. It's a relief to have him back to his usual voracious self - and he still eats anything.

"We won't have him in the kitchen when we're eating avocado again, though. Dogs and avocado just don't mix."

Vet Rory Paton, who treated Dudley at Haygate Veterinary Centre, said: "I don't wish to cause great public concern that any amount of avocado is toxic, but it's the persin within it that can cause major problems in moderate quantities and above.

"In general it is best to stick to a balanced diet of good quality dog food.

"Besides the toxin in the flesh, avocados also contain large stones which can also harm dogs.

"But it's good to see Dudley bouncing about again. He's a different dog now."

By Tom Johannsen

Vet Rory Paton with Dudley and his owner David Burton.