Farmers are being warned to take extra care with medications after a working sheepdog swallowed a hormone implant used on sheep.
Bess, who belongs to James Musgrave and Sarah Reay, of Cardew Hall Farm near Dalston, almost died of a ruptured intestine.
But thanks to the prompt action of her owners and the work of the vets at Paragon Veterinary Group she is now on the mend.
Sarah said: “She went off her food and just looked dull. When I took her and the pups for a walk she wouldn’t leave the yard, and she’s normally jumping around and into everything. She kept looking at me and I knew there was something wrong.”
Blood tests were inconclusive and after a night in Paragon’s Dalston surgery on intravenous fluids she seemed to improve.
“Two weeks later she went off her food again and she was starting to come in season,” said Sarah. “The weight dropped off her and she looked awful.”
Back at Paragon, Bess had an ultrasound which showed a dilated uterus.
Vet Graham Lewis said: “We discussed it with Sarah and decided to take Bess to surgery. In surgery, her uterus did not appear abnormal, but we found a foreign object in her small intestine that was close to rupturing the intestinal wall, which would lead to peritonitis (swelling to the lining of the abdomen).
“The object was removed and turned out to be an implant that is placed in sheep to bring on oestrus. This one must have come out and Bess decided it would be tasty!
“The implant has progesterone in it, and we think the high levels of progesterone caused her to be off colour, and also caused her to come into season and have the dilated uterus.”
Sarah said: “We have no idea where she picked it up. We do use them, but they go into a bucket when they are finished, and she is not normally around then as she goes into a trailer while the sheep are in the pens.
“Also, she is not really the kind of dog that picks things up. It’s something you would never think your dog would eat but we are a lot more aware now.”
Sarah added: “If I hadn’t taken her to Paragon I don’t know if she would be here now. It was just hours away from perforating her intestine.
“You know your dog inside out, if something doesn’t look right just trust those vets.”
Bess, who is the main working dog on the farm, as well as a favourite with the family, is now recovering.
“Her fitness levels are gradually getting back up there,” said Sarah. “I would hate to lose any animal, they are part of your family.”
Graham said: “It’s great to see Bess is making a recovery and a good reminder to be careful with disposing of medicines generally, as you never know who might decide to pick them up.
“I’d also like to remind people how important it is to get your animal checked out at the vets if their behaviour changes.”
