A family have been hit with a vet bill of £7000 (about $8000) after their Weimaraner swallowed an entire rock, The Mirror reports.
Dog mom Shannon Stone took four-year-old Milo to the vet near their home in Wales after he began vomiting and producing blood. The vet asked whether he might have eaten something that didn’t agree with him.
Stone said that while he had a penchant for chewing on socks, she hadn’t noticed him eating anything unusual. However, after a scan, the vet saw that the canine had a rock in his lower intestine.
Life-Saving Surgery — And a Vet Bill
“They gave us the options of taking him home with pain medication and seeing if it would pass or leaving him there under observation,” explained Shannon, so she left Milo at the vet. However, the family received a call that night letting them know that he needed life-saving surgery to remove the rock.
Fortunately, the surgery went well and Milo is now safely back at home and doing well. She described him as “such a character”, with her father being his favorite.
“He wasn’t eating in the vets,” she said. “They wanted him to come home and as soon as he did he started to eat, he just wanted to be home.
“He acts like a puppy, he is so energetic. He is doing so much better now but he doesn’t understand he needs to rest, he wants to run and play. And he hates his cone.”
Milo is seeing the vet again today (Nov. 1) to ensure that his recovery is going as planned. But according to his dog parents, he appears to be back to his usual self. They haven’t seen the rock, so don’t know how big it was. However, they expect to see it when they return to the vet.
The Dangers of Eating Rocks
The American Kennel Club says that eating rocks can lead to intestinal blockages, perforated stomachs, and choking – and can damage teeth and gums too.
It might be difficult to stop your dog from eating rocks altogether, particularly when they’re outside or on walks. Sometimes, dogs might eat rocks out of boredom, so make sure they’ve got enough toys and activities to keep their minds and bodies occupied. Alternatively, eating rocks could be a sign of an eating disorder like pica. If in doubt, it’s best to consult your vet.
