Melbourne Vets provide top tips on safe toys for pets
Press release
18 July 2008
Dogs love to play, whether it’s chasing sticks and balls or wrestling on the floor with squeaky toys but, as Zoran Zovankic learnt the hard way, playing can prove dangerous – even deadly – unless owners ensure their pet is using suitable toys.
As he was getting ready for work early one morning, Zoran spotted his six-year-old German Shepherd, Kahn, trying to sneak under the television cabinet for a rubber ball. He pulled it out and threw it to the dog.
Later, as the 37-year-old went to leave the house, he heard a gargling sound coming from the lounge.
“He’d swallowed the ball and by the time I tried to get it out he was having problems breathing,” said Zoran, from Werribee.
“It was pretty horrific. I’ve been in a car accident with someone who’s been in a bad way and I held it together, administering first aid. With Kahn, I just imagined him suffocating and dying – I turned to jelly.”
His partner, Maurita Rahn, helped get the dog to the University of Melbourne’s Veterinary Clinic and Hospital based in Werribee, where vets in the 24-hour emergency clinic were able to see him immediately.
The dog was barely breathing and had to be heavily sedated before the ball could be removed safely, decreasing his ability to breathe and further risking his life.
Kahn survived, but according to Dr Liesje Grieve, who carried out the life-saving operation, he was lucky. Two months earlier, a devastated owner brought in a “beautiful, healthy” golden retriever who had swallowed a similar ball and could not be revived.
“This particular type of hollow rubber ball is pretty widely available for kids to play with, but because they’re smooth and can change shape they easily get stuck down dogs’ throats and stop them breathing,” she said.
“Two incidents might not sound much, but it’s two too many and is easily avoidable.”
Dr Grieve says although play keeps pets happy and healthy owners should take care that the toys their pets play with are suitable in terms of size and texture. She says pet toys made by companies like Kong are safe, but warned that even chasing sticks can pose risks.
The Veterinary Clinic and Hospital has treated dogs with damage to their mouths, noses, throats – even their lungs – from sharp objects, such as sticks and bones.
Owners should also ensure they don’t leave large tins, such as empty Milo containers, lying around.
“Dogs like the smell and can get their heads stuck inside and suffocate,” said Dr Grieve.
Zoran, who has owned dogs for years, added: “These things can be easily overlooked. We’re lucky we’re only a few kilometres from the hospital or Kahn might not have survived.”
For further information please contact Andrea Jones, Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: ajone@unimelb.edu.au