'Dispose Of BBQ Leftovers Safely' Says PDSA After Chicken Bone Lodges In Brighton Dog's Mouth

People are being warned about the dangers barbecue leftovers can pose to pets after a beloved Brighton dog needed emergency treatment to remove a chicken bone wedged in his mouth.

Seven-year-old rescue dog Billy is credited with transforming the life of his owner Frank Menzies after the 58-year-old suffered two major heart attacks. Now, with the help of vet charity PDSA, Frank has returned the favour.

An unsuspecting and naturally curious Billy discovered fragments of chicken bone - believed to have been scavenged from a local barbecue - and attempted to swallow them.

Frank was first alerted to the Jack Russell’s distress after he spotted Billy frantically pawing at his mouth and making a chewing motion.

Frank, from Patcham in Brighton, explained:

“Billy was in the back garden and was rubbing his mouth with his paw as though trying to dislodge something. I went out to investigate and he looked me straight in the eyes before rolling onto his side on the ground. I immediately realised something was very wrong so I ran outside, picked him up and took him to the Pet Hospital, which is luckily not far from where I live, as quickly as I could.”

Despite Frank’s swift action, Billy was in a lot of pain and discomfort by the time the pair arrived at the Pet Hospital. After examining Billy, PDSA vets discovered a chicken bone had become wedged behind his lower back teeth.

Frank added:

“The PDSA team was excellent. They could see that Billy was in a lot of pain and told me that he needed an emergency procedure, which I agreed to without hesitation. The vet was extremely kind and said he would call me as soon as there was an update. I went home and paced up and down the garden for the next few hours, just waiting for news.”

Billy was sedated to allow the bone to be safely removed and X-rays were carried out, revealing additional bone fragments in his stomach. Thankfully, the procedure was a success and Billy returned home later that evening with pain relief and advice to rest.

PDSA Vet Claire Roberts said:

“Billy was in a great deal of pain when he arrived at the Pet Hospital, and his mouth was so sore that he couldn’t be properly examined. The team had to sedate Billy so that the bone could be successfully removed and, luckily, there was no damage to his mouth or throat. X-rays of Billy’s stomach identified bone fragments so Frank was advised to feed him bulky food to encourage their safe passage through his digestive system.

“Billy was extremely lucky that the bone in his mouth and the ones in his stomach didn’t cause any serious damage. It is cases such as this that highlight the importance of clearing away any debris, including skewers, bones, and litter, after enjoying a barbecue. What may be some harmless fun in the sun for us can easily have disastrous consequences for pets and wild animals.”

Frank added:

“I can’t thank PDSA enough for helping Billy - he means the world to me. My circumstances changed dramatically, and pretty much overnight, when I had my heart attacks and the doctor told me that I had to give up work. With the rising cost of living and everything going up, it is a weight off my mind to know that I can rely on PDSA to help Billy should anything go wrong with him. Everyone at PDSA’s Brighton Pet Hospital is so caring and professional – the team always puts the health and welfare of the pet they are treating first and I know Billy is in safe hands when he is there.”

In times of hardship pets like Billy will still fall ill or become injured and need emergency care. While Billy’s owner contributed what he could towards his treatment, the total cost of his care came to over £200. PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to provide life-saving care to vulnerable pets, whose owners have nowhere else to turn. To donate, visit pdsa.org.uk/donate