Puppy makes a full recovery after swallowing metal pole
Eight week old pit bull Blue managed to swallow a 15 inch metal garden flag post whilst in the garden of his home in Alabama, USA.
Dogs have a tendency to chew and eat different things, such as slippers, shoes and newspapers. However, managing to pick up and eat a metal pole would be a very difficult task!
Blue’s owners discovered what had happened late in the evening, and tried to pull out the metal pole. With a few unsuccessful attempts, they took him straight to Rehm Animal Clinic, where vet Dr Chris Rehm said: ‘Blue was gasping. He was agitated…he couldn’t breathe.’
Dr Caroline Rehm also added: ‘The owners were terrified Blue was going to die.’ Dr Rehm stated that the surgery undertaken to save Blue took around 90 minutes, and thankfully was a complete success, however at one point she thought Blue would not make it.
‘What’s really important is that the owners got Blue in here quickly. He’s already eating again.’ Said Dr Rehm.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886
Greyhound loses every race as he turns out to be blind
Jack Sprat the greyhound was entered into dog races under his racing name Century’s Gunner in Wimbledon last year after he reached training speeds of 40mph.
However, in both the races he was entered in by his owner, he came last. It turned out that Jack was almost completely blind, and had no chance of seeing the rabbit.
His owner was baffled by his losses, thinking Jack just wasn’t fast enough, and he was handed over to the Dogs’ Trust in Norfolk. After being examined by a vet at the Trust, it was realised that Jack had a rare eye condition called chorioretinitis which left him completely blind in his left eye, and only 20 percent vision in his right.
The condition left Jack with a swelling and irritation of the middle layer of the eye which is irreparable.
A member of the Dogs’ Trust, Kate Brewster, said: ‘Jack would have been terrified facing with no vision in his left eye – used by dogs to follow the rabbit. We don’t think Jack’s racing owner realised the severity of his blindness and it would have been terrifying for him to race because of the noise.’
‘He must have followed the other dogs or maybe used his sense of smell to get around the track. He clearly had no way of seeing the rabbit.’
Jack is now being looked after at the Norfolk Dogs’ Trust branch, and is looking for a new home.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886
Baa-king mad! Sheep grows up to think he’s a dog
Jack the sheep was rescued as a lamb by Alison Sinstadt and raised alongside Alison’s springer spaniel Jessie in their house.
As Jack has grown, he has developed many canine tendencies – and now believes, as a fully grown sheep, that he is a dog.
6 month old Jack likes to be taken out for walks with owner Alison, wears a collar, fetches sticks, and even tries to herd sheep when he is put in a field, not recognising his own species.
Jack’s baa is also very dog-like – sounding half like a baa, half like a bark.
Alison said: ‘He was very small and we decided to bring him in the house. It ended up that he took to the dog and now they sleep together in a dog basket in the porch. Jack follows Jessie wherever she goes and even tries to copy her when she barks.’
‘Jack doesn’t even recognise sheep as his own kind because he tries to herd them up when he’s in a field with them. He even fetches sticks and jumps up on his hind legs. When we take Jessie for a walk on the lead Jack nuzzles me until I put him on a lead too.’
The only trait that Jack has that is remotely sheep-like is the fact that he eats grass. Everything else he does, however, is totally like a dog.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886.
Heard of dogs taking their owners for a walk?
There is a new fitness craze about, and it still involves walking your dog.
However, this new fad involves your dog walking you.
The owner attaches themselves to a bungee cord, which is then attached to a harness on their dog. The dog then runs at it's chosen speed, and the owner is pulled along, having to keep up with the dog.
The new cross country canine craze CaniX is sweeping the country, already finding fame in the US and Europe. Although the dog pulls the owner at whatever speed itwants, dogs can apparently soon tell if it is pulling a dead weight, and if you are doing nothing the dog will stop.
Runners, however, need to be fairly fit to be able to run the same speed as their dogs – it’s not quire a leisurely stroll! But it’s great exercise and great fun for both you and your dog.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886.
Scruffy rescue dogs given a makeover to find homes
Usually when homeless dogs come into rescue centres, they don’t look the best they’ve ever been. Many look scruffy, run down, and even slightly threatening when they are behind bars and in cages, and unfortunately many people get slightly put off by this.
Teresa Berg from Texas, USA, has given a makeover to dogs needing re-homing in rescue centres across the state. This has been a huge success, with new owners snapping up the posh pampered pooches within a few days.
Miss Berg believes that thousands of dogs are put down every year simply because the pictures posted on adoption sites show them in a cage and looking like sure to bite your toddler.
It is only a few days once a new picture is taken by a photographer that the dog is adopted, proving the success of Teresa Berg’s idea.
Miss Berg is encouraging other professional photographers to donate their services and follow the same path as she, helping to rehome rescue animals by making them more appealing.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886.
World’s tallest female dog is a whopping 5ft 11in
Nova the Great Dane, aptly nicknamed ‘Super’ Nova, has finally been crowned the world’s tallest female dog after the previous record holder, Gibson, tragically passed away in 2009.
Nova stands at a sky scraping 5 foot 11 inches when on her hind legs, towering over her owner. She eats over two stone of food a week, and weighs over eleven stone.
The Great Dane lives in Illinois, US, with her owner Ann Suplee. Ann said: “Nova knows her own size, but with a simple ‘excuse me’ she will move out of the way, and is very careful around my three-year-old grandson who’s now at eye level with her tail.’
“We don’t know whether it was the good food we fed Nova when she was a puppy, or some throwback genes, but I think it’s all the love and affection we’ve given her through the years that made her so big,’ added Ann.
The giant pooch gets watermelon as a treat, and, despite her size, often gets scared by smaller dogs.
Nova now holds this claim to fame, and is officially recognised in the Guinness Book of Records.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886.
Craziest insurance claims
Below are some of the contenders for some of the most ridiculous claims for pet insurance that have been received.
- Labrador Stella Artois got her lower jaw stuck inside a can of green beans. Owner Cathy Timmons took out pet insurance after her dog ate a rock at six months old – the insurance turned out to be a good investment! Mrs Timmons said: ‘I was worried that she wouldn’t be able to breathe. I tried to take the can off, but I was worried that the lid would dig into her skin, so we went to the vets.’
- Coco the Chihuahua was out walking with his owner one snowy morning when a Great Horned Owl swooped down and snatched Coco. Owner George Kalomiris kept a firm grip on the lead which encouraged the owl to drop Coco and spooked the bird away. Coco’s right foreleg was punctured by the owl’s talons, but he made a full recovery.
- Eddy the cat accidentally landed on a hot stove when chasing flies around the kitchen, and burnt all four of his paws at a blistering 260 degrees celcius. His paws were covered in blisters, and he had to be treated quickly at the vets, getting bandages on all of his paws.
- Harley the pug from Rhode Island, US, had to be taken in to the vet for x-rays after consuming over 100 rocks in less than 10 minutes.
- Gus the Labrador ate over five pounds of chocolate and cookies while his owners were away and had to be taken in to the vet and checked over, as chocolate is very poisonous to dogs.
- Moose the mastiff was kicked in the head by a mule when he got too close.
- Balboa the pug was nearly blinded after being sprayed with venom by an insect called the Southern Walking Stick when he walked into the undergrowth in Louisiana, US.
- Tobey the Labrador needed treatment after getting a little over excited by a water sprinkler and accidentally swallowing the sprinkler itself instead of just a gulp of water.
- Teuer the Jack Russell needed medical attention after he tried to run underneath a closing garage door, and ended up getting pinned to the ground by it.
- Sadie the Golden Retriever was bitten on the nose by a huge otter weighing nearly 1 ½ stone.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure your puppy is registered for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection to make sure it is protected against any unforseen circumstances that puppies can get into. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886.
Ryan Gosling adores his pooch, George
Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling has been spotted with his beloved dog George in the past, as he had him for 11 years. In June, he was spotted carrying his mutt while he was on the escalator at LAX airport. The large dog was sporting an unusual Mohawk – as according to his owner, George ‘insists’ on having it done: ‘Ten years ago I shaved a Mohawk just for the summer…and then every time it started to grow out, he turned into a total jerk. And then, I’d shave it back and he’d turn into a nice guy again.’ George must prefer his ‘hairdo’ shorter to keep him cool in the summer months, or he is just particular about his image! Ryan was recently spotted again taking George, his loyal friend, on a walk at Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles and he had to lift his dog to get him in his 4X4 as it was too high for him to jump. The 160 acre Runyon Canyon Park is located close to the Hollywood Hills and they have a fairly liberal dog policy where dogs are allowed off the leash in the majority of the place. The actor may have a macho man exterior, but this is clearly all for just the cameras, as he shows a much softer side when it comes to his much loved dog.
Have you just purchased a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered breeder? If so, make sure you register for the 12 week FREE insurance within 48 hours of collection. You can register by either visiting www.dog-breeds.co.uk or calling our Freephone number: 0800 181886.
Jack Russell survives being stuck down a rabbit hole for 16 days
Aptly named Jack the Jack Russell fell into a rabbit hole whilst out for a walk with his owners in the Pennines, and miraculously managed to survive down there for 16 days without food or water.
Jack was chasing a rabbit when he fell down the hole, and owners Erika and Carl Toutenhoofd began to get worried after a few minutes when he did not return. They had searched high and low for Jack to no avail, and after two weeks gave up hope of ever finding him, even after asking their local pub customers to keep a look out for him.
16 days later, friend Louise Bedford was out walking when she heard a whimpering in a patch of brambles, and managed to dig Jack out of the rabbit hole.
Owner Erika said: ‘I thought I was never going to see him again, it was awful. When I got downstairs and she was standing there with Jack wrapped in her jumper I just burst into tears.’
‘I can’t believe he was alive after 16 days,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe a dog could survive underground for that long without food or water.’
Jack was taken to a vet straight away and given glucose for severe dehydration. He may also lose an eye from the ulcers he developed whilst being underground, but Jack is now recovering very well.
Mrs Toutenhoofd has said that she will never let him off the lead again. ‘He’s put the weight back on that he’d lost and has perked up a lot. We will definitely keep him on a lead from now on.’
After purchasing a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered dog breeder, make sure you activate your 12 weeks FREE insurance within 48 hours of collecting your puppy. To regsiter for the FREE insurance visit www.dog-breeds.co.uk or call 0800 181886.
David Walliams saves dog during his Thames swim
The Little Britain star has done a few sporting challenges in past years, but after swimming the Channel in 2006, this year David Walliams decided to swim 140 miles - the length of the London River Thames for Sport Relief. He has not only completed this amazing challenge in eight days, but had to endure cold and windy conditions and also contracted a tummy bug and suffered from exhaustion during his effort. He has, however, found time during his swim to save a struggling Labrador. Vinny, the one-year-old Labrador suffers from hip dysplasia and jumped in for a swim, but then started to struggle when it came to getting out of the water. David Walliams noticed the dog’s struggle and did not hesitate to help by helping to lift to dog out onto dry land and into the safe hands of its owner. The owner of the dog was very grateful and said: ‘He stopped, swam over and helped me get him out, which when you think what he’s going through with the swim is totally amazing. What a man.’
After purchasing a puppy from a Dog Breeders Association registered dog breeder, make sure you activate your 12 weeks FREE insurance within 48 hours of collecting your puppy. To regsiter for the FREE insurance visit www.dog-breeds.co.uk or call 0800 181886.