A simple game of fetch ended in blood and an emergency trip to the veterinarian after a dog got a stick lodged in her mouth and throat.
Dog owner Catherine Pryde is joining a chorus of other dog owners and vets who are warning fellow owners of the "horrific injuries" that can come from playing fetch with sticks.
Pryde harshly learned that lesson after her smooth collie Maya became seriously injured during one of their games.
As Maya retrieved the stick, it became deeply lodged in her throat, puncturing her tongue and displacing her voice box.
“Stick injuries may not be initially obvious and may cause long-term problems,” warns Sarah Stevenson of Bishopbriggs Veterinary Centre.
Grace Webster, president of the British Veterinary Association in Scotland, states the terrible injuries “can be very distressing for both you and your dog, such as causing cuts to their mouths and tongues or, as in this case, getting the stick lodged in their throat.
“Even when the initial wound is treated, splinters of wood have often got stuck and require subsequent operations,” she adds.
So next time, grab for a tennis ball or Frisbee.
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