A vet has urged parents to correctly dispose of used nappies after a dog needed emergency treatment.
Otto, a five-year-old black Labrador, was rushed to Alsager Vet Centre by his worried owner after he picked up a soiled nappy on a walk – and swallowed it before they could persuade him to drop it.
At the vet’s practice in Crewe Road, Alsager, Otto was given medication to make him sick.
He regurgitated the nappy and was able to go home none the worse for his ordeal.
However, vet Dr Tara Lowe said that if Otto hadn’t vomited, he would have required major surgery to remove the nappy.
She added that the nappy contained human faeces, which could have caused a stomach upset.
Dr Lowe said: “Otto was a perfect patient and I was happy I could save him from having major surgery.
“He was very lucky that his owner acted quickly and brought him into the practice, so we could help him bring up the nappy before it caused him any major harm.
“The nappy was made from materials that would not break down in his stomach and, because of its size, it would have caused a serious blockage in his digestive system – which could potentially have led to life-threatening issues such as peritonitis and sepsis.
“The nappy put Otto’s life in danger and caused a stressful experience for his owner, as well as being unpleasant for the veterinary team as we had to check through the vomit to make sure he’d brought it all back up.
“I would urge anyone to put used nappies in bins or, if they are out and about, to take them home and dispose of them correctly.
“It might not be something you’d expect a dog to pick up, but as Otto has shown, some pets will eat anything.”
Owner Neena Cleary said Otto found the nappy on the Salt Line nature trail.
She said: “We walk the Salt Line often and it’s usually unspoilt and we don’t see any rubbish.
“We were close to the viewpoint when I noticed Otto sniffing something and then he picked it up and ran off.
“I went after him but as I tried to take what I realised was a nappy out of his mouth, he swallowed it.
“Alsager Vets were great when I called them, and they told me to bring Otto straight in. They clearly explained how they were going to treat Otto and I can’t praise them enough.
“I was so relieved when they said he wouldn’t need surgery and, although he was a bit sheepish for a few hours afterwards, he was back to his usual self very quickly.”
She added: “I can’t believe anybody would knowingly throw a nappy on the floor like that. I hope it was an accident, and fell out of a bag unnoticed, but it’s frightening how ill it could have made Otto.”
Alsager Vet Centre is part of Willows Veterinary Group, which includes small-animal surgeries across Staffordshire and Cheshire, all part of VetPartners.
(Photo: VetPartners).
