Dog owners warned over gum in park eaten by pet
A DOG owner had to fork out £200 in vet bills after their dog became sick after eating chewing gum in a popular Loughborough park.
Several pieces of the gum had been left in Queen’s Park, with the dog coming across them on the morning of August 21.
The pet was rushed to the vets for treatment and has now recovered.
The owner picked up the rest of the pieces of the gum and found the tub that they came from, which showed that they contained xylitol, a common sweetener which can be poisonous to dogs.
They posted on the Spotted Loughborough Facebook page about the incident, warning that “littering can be lethal”.
They said: “Thank you to everyone who has been so concerned and supportive.
“Obviously I am ultimately responsible for my pet (hence him being rushed to the vet) but I’m also concerned about the welfare of other dogs and animals (which is why I posted).”
Just two weeks previously, a dog died after eating an unknown substance in a park in Burbage.
The 12-year-old chocolate Labrador had been let off his lead in Tilton Road Park, where he went off and swallowed something, near the Lucas Road entrance.
He was given treatment by vets but his condition continued to worsen and he suffered heart failure and passed away.
Concerns have also been raised recently about poisoned bait being left in Leicestershire parks.
In mid-June, a dog owner had to take their dogs to the vets after it had eat a piece of “poisoned meat” in Leicester’s Knighton Park.
There were similar reports several months ago about suspicious substances being found in Watermead Park.