best-friend

pdsa in action

Forget Wimbledon, it was a case of “No balls please!” for hungry hound Zeus when he gobbled down a tennis ball whole while enjoying a run on the beach.

The 11-month-old Dogue De Bordeaux from Gateshead spotted another dog playing with the ball and made a grab for it, accidently gulping it down in the process.

A couple of days later Zeus had gone off his food and started being sick, so worried owner Richard Waugh rushed him to Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital for help.

PDSA vets took X-rays to determine where the ball was and decided that emergency surgery was needed as the playful pup had become dangerously ill.

Gateshead PDSA senior vet, Catriona Atkinson, said: “A large blockage of this nature creates a life-or-death situation - without surgery, it is highly likely that Zeus would have died. As with all major operations, there are risks, but it was the only option.”

Vets carried out emergency surgery and the tennis ball was removed intact. Zeus’s operation went extremely well and he was kept in overnight for observation. He quickly bounced back to health, and has now returned to his lovable self.

Richard said: “Zeus is a big softie and loves meeting other dogs while out on walks. He’s got a cheeky side, as he does love to play with a ball – even if it’s not his! Now he’s a bit older, he has stopped picking up items, but we always make sure we watch him really closely. That’s why I couldn’t believe it when he swallowed the ball.”

This was the second time that Zeus had wolfed down a ball. When he was four-months-old, he found a discarded ball in the park. On that occasion, nature took its course and a trip to the vets wasn’t needed. But unfortunately this time round, he wasn’t so lucky.

“He’s a brilliant dog and we’d be lost without him,” added Richard. “I’m so grateful to PDSA for saving his life.”

Forget Wimbledon, it was a case of “No balls please!” for hungry hound Zeus when he gobbled down a tennis ball whole while enjoying a run on the beach.

The 11-month-old Dogue De Bordeaux from Gateshead spotted another dog playing with the ball and made a grab for it, accidently gulping it down in the process.

A couple of days later Zeus had gone off his food and started being sick, so worried owner Richard Waugh rushed him to Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital for help.

PDSA vets took X-rays to determine where the ball was and decided that emergency surgery was needed as the playful pup had become dangerously ill.

Gateshead PDSA senior vet, Catriona Atkinson, said: “A large blockage of this nature creates a life-or-death situation - without surgery, it is highly likely that Zeus would have died. As with all major operations, there are risks, but it was the only option.”

Vets carried out emergency surgery and the tennis ball was removed intact. Zeus’s operation went extremely well and he was kept in overnight for observation. He quickly bounced back to health, and has now returned to his lovable self.

Richard said: “Zeus is a big softie and loves meeting other dogs while out on walks. He’s got a cheeky side, as he does love to play with a ball – even if it’s not his! Now he’s a bit older, he has stopped picking up items, but we always make sure we watch him really closely. That’s why I couldn’t believe it when he swallowed the ball.”

This was the second time that Zeus had wolfed down a ball. When he was four-months-old, he found a discarded ball in the park. On that occasion, nature took its course and a trip to the vets wasn’t needed. But unfortunately this time round, he wasn’t so lucky.

“He’s a brilliant dog and we’d be lost without him,” added Richard. “I’m so grateful to PDSA for saving his life.”

Forget Wimbledon, it was a case of “No balls please!” for hungry hound Zeus when he gobbled down a tennis ball whole while enjoying a run on the beach.

The 11-month-old Dogue De Bordeaux from Gateshead spotted another dog playing with the ball and made a grab for it, accidently gulping it down in the process.

A couple of days later Zeus had gone off his food and started being sick, so worried owner Richard Waugh rushed him to Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital for help.

PDSA vets took X-rays to determine where the ball was and decided that emergency surgery was needed as the playful pup had become dangerously ill.

Gateshead PDSA senior vet, Catriona Atkinson, said: “A large blockage of this nature creates a life-or-death situation - without surgery, it is highly likely that Zeus would have died. As with all major operations, there are risks, but it was the only option.”

Vets carried out emergency surgery and the tennis ball was removed intact. Zeus’s operation went extremely well and he was kept in overnight for observation. He quickly bounced back to health, and has now returned to his lovable self.

Richard said: “Zeus is a big softie and loves meeting other dogs while out on walks. He’s got a cheeky side, as he does love to play with a ball – even if it’s not his! Now he’s a bit older, he has stopped picking up items, but we always make sure we watch him really closely. That’s why I couldn’t believe it when he swallowed the ball.”

This was the second time that Zeus had wolfed down a ball. When he was four-months-old, he found a discarded ball in the park. On that occasion, nature took its course and a trip to the vets wasn’t needed. But unfortunately this time round, he wasn’t so lucky.

“He’s a brilliant dog and we’d be lost without him,” added Richard. “I’m so grateful to PDSA for saving his life.”