Carlisle dog's life saved after swallowing kebab skewer

Luna, the right-year-old yellow lab, underwent surgery at Paragon in Dalston, where vet Graeme Hutchison pulled the intact stick from her stomach before it could cause serious damage.

Owner of the dog, Jo Gray, from Morton, said: “If that kebab stick had got stuck in her throat or perforated her stomach it could have been very serious.

“She is a much-loved family pet who is never happier than when she’s going on an adventure with our kids – if it went wrong, I didn’t want to think what I would say to two six-year-olds.”

Luna has been a lifelong playmate to twins Nathan and Evelyn.

Jo and her family were attending a barbeque with friends when a child dropped a plate of food including a kebab.

“The dogs dove in and I was 99 per cent sure Luna swallowed the kebab,” said Jo, who works as a private contractor to the NHS in endoscopy.

She called Paragon who advised her to feed Luna ‘lots of bread and pasta’ to protect her stomach and monitor her overnight.

“I spent the night on the sofa with her in case she was sick and at risk of perforating herself and the next morning she was very quiet and started looking exhausted,” Jo added.

Luna was rushed to Paragon’s Dalston surgery where Graeme operated.

Luna, four days post-op (Image: Paragon)

“He found the kebab stick in her stomach and pulled out the whole thing intact. It had not perforated,” said Jo.

“With it being a wooden skewer, you can’t see it on an X-ray. I would rather act sooner and take the risk of unnecessary surgery than wait and risk her bleeding internally.”

Luna has since made a full recovery.

Graeme Hutchison said: “We are all delighted for Jo there was a happy ending and Luna has made a full recovery.

“She is a lovely dog and made a great patient.”

Jo added: “A few weeks after the operation they were all playing in the fields again. She is completely part of the family.

“My message to pet owners is kebab sticks are really dangerous. If you think your dog might have swallowed one call a vet right away. It’s better to stop using them.”