The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Warning after dog gets tongue trapped in ball
OWNERS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THEIR PET’S TOYS AFTER STRICKEN POOCH’S EMERGENCY VISIT TO VETS
A SPRINGER spaniel ended up needing an emergency trip to the vets after he got his tongue trapped in a ball.
Arlo was playing fetch with his owners during their regular Sunday afternoon walk through Jesmond Dene, Newcastle, when his tongue became trapped in a small hole where a plug connected to the ball’s squeaker had popped out. As his tongue began to swell, Arlo became more and more distressed, shaking his head and growling.
Owners Brian Ham and Heather Caile realised they needed veterinary help to release Arlo’s tongue from the ball, and rushed their pet to Westway Vets in West Road, Newcastle, a veterinary hospital with a 24-hour emergency service.
Vet Cassie Kerr discovered that Arlo’s tongue was so firmly wedged into the hole that he would need to be sedated while she cut the ball in half with a surgical blade. Helped by veterinary nurses Karly White and Emily Roberts, Cassie was then able to gently release his tongue.
Arlo had swelling and a couple of blisters but was otherwise well.
Westway Vets is now warning owners to be extra cautious when choosing the right ball for their pet and to ensure it does not become damaged.
Vet nurse Karly said: “Many of the emergencies we see out of hours involve pets who have hurt themselves while playing or who have swallowed something they shouldn’t have had.
“Dogs coming in with sticks wedged into the roof of their mouth is quite a common injury, and we’ve also seen balls stuck in throats, dogs with socks stuck in their throat and several dogs that have swallowed batteries.
“While accidents do happen, our advice is to always be vigilant and check what your dog is playing with.
“With Arlo’s ball, the stopper that was part of the squeak in the toy had come loose and popped out so he was able to get his tongue stuck.
“The danger was that his swollen tongue could have obstructed his airway, but fortunately his owners acted quickly and got him to the veterinary hospital so we were able to quickly help.”
Arlo, who is six, made a swift recovery at the home of his owners, Brian a project director, and Heather, a gym manager, in Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle.
Brian said: “Arlo is a typical lively spaniel who loves playing and is obsessed with games of fetch with his ball.
“It used to have a loud squeak but that came out along with the plug at the bottom, leaving a two-centimetre hole.
“He was carrying the ball and it became clear his tongue was stuck. He was still wagging his tail and trying to shake it off.
“Back home, I tried to cut the ball to create a slit to ease his tongue out but he was getting distressed so we took him along to Westway.
“It was a Sunday evening but luckily there is an emergency service, and they were so helpful and gave him the best possible care. He is happy and has made a full recovery. He still has lots of other balls to play with but we will make sure they are chew resistant from now on.”
The danger was that his swollen tongue could have obstructed his airway
Karly White