Pet owner's shocking tale: How their dog nearly died from poison at campsite
- Replies 4
Camping under the vast Australian sky can be an idyllic experience, but for one pet owner, it turned into a distressing ordeal.
Alice Bleathman, a young woman living the dream in her decked-out van, faced every pet owner's nightmare when her beloved dog, Ziggy, was poisoned in a most unexpected and harrowing way.
The day started like any other, with Alice, her boyfriend, and Ziggy enjoying a morning walk near their campsite on Nullarbor. Ziggy, a border collie, roamed freely as the couple took in the serene landscape.
However, upon their return, Alice noticed a change in Ziggy's behaviour. The once lively pup was unusually docile, a red flag that Alice initially attributed to tiredness.
‘Why is he so docile, that's really weird,’ she said.
It wasn't until they reached the supermarket that the gravity of the situation became clear. Ziggy's lethargy had escalated; he was unresponsive to touch and struggled to walk.
'We were trying to figure out what was wrong, he looked like he was on death's door,' Alice recounted.
In a panic, they rushed to the vet, only to find it closed. Thankfully, the emergency number provided a lifeline, and the vet, recognising the urgency, hurried to the clinic.
The vet's initial suspicion was marijuana poisoning, a diagnosis that left Alice and her partner bewildered, as neither of them used the substance.
The truth, however, was even more shocking. During treatment, Ziggy vomited up human faeces, revealing the source of his poisoning.
Someone had defecated in the bush near the campsite, and Ziggy had ingested the tainted remains.
‘You wouldn't read about it, but it happened to my dog, and he's just spent the past 24 hours in ICU, getting everything out of his system,’ Alice said.
This bizarre and unfortunate incident is not as rare as one might think.
Alice's story resonated with many pet owners who shared similar experiences. One person commented: ‘This actually happened to a friend of mine’s dog in Newcastle, New South Wales. Luckily, he got to the vet quickly, too and made a full recovery!’
‘Vet nurse here! I’ve seen a golden retriever who did the same thing, took a few days but he pulled through,’ another shared.
Ziggy's story has a happy ending, as he has since recovered from his ordeal after intensive care.
But it's a wake-up call for all of us who enjoy camping with our furry friends. We must be vigilant and ensure that our campsites remain safe for everyone, including our four-legged companions.
You can watch Alice’s update on Ziggy’s condition here:
Source: @alicebleathman_/TikTok
Have you ever encountered a similar situation while camping with your pets? Share your stories and tips for keeping our furry friends safe in the great outdoors in the comments below.
Alice Bleathman, a young woman living the dream in her decked-out van, faced every pet owner's nightmare when her beloved dog, Ziggy, was poisoned in a most unexpected and harrowing way.
The day started like any other, with Alice, her boyfriend, and Ziggy enjoying a morning walk near their campsite on Nullarbor. Ziggy, a border collie, roamed freely as the couple took in the serene landscape.
However, upon their return, Alice noticed a change in Ziggy's behaviour. The once lively pup was unusually docile, a red flag that Alice initially attributed to tiredness.
Alice noticed a change in Ziggy’s behaviour after a morning walk. Image source: @alicebleathman_/TikTok
‘Why is he so docile, that's really weird,’ she said.
It wasn't until they reached the supermarket that the gravity of the situation became clear. Ziggy's lethargy had escalated; he was unresponsive to touch and struggled to walk.
'We were trying to figure out what was wrong, he looked like he was on death's door,' Alice recounted.
In a panic, they rushed to the vet, only to find it closed. Thankfully, the emergency number provided a lifeline, and the vet, recognising the urgency, hurried to the clinic.
The vet's initial suspicion was marijuana poisoning, a diagnosis that left Alice and her partner bewildered, as neither of them used the substance.
The truth, however, was even more shocking. During treatment, Ziggy vomited up human faeces, revealing the source of his poisoning.
Someone had defecated in the bush near the campsite, and Ziggy had ingested the tainted remains.
‘You wouldn't read about it, but it happened to my dog, and he's just spent the past 24 hours in ICU, getting everything out of his system,’ Alice said.
This bizarre and unfortunate incident is not as rare as one might think.
Alice's story resonated with many pet owners who shared similar experiences. One person commented: ‘This actually happened to a friend of mine’s dog in Newcastle, New South Wales. Luckily, he got to the vet quickly, too and made a full recovery!’
‘Vet nurse here! I’ve seen a golden retriever who did the same thing, took a few days but he pulled through,’ another shared.
Ziggy's story has a happy ending, as he has since recovered from his ordeal after intensive care.
But it's a wake-up call for all of us who enjoy camping with our furry friends. We must be vigilant and ensure that our campsites remain safe for everyone, including our four-legged companions.
You can watch Alice’s update on Ziggy’s condition here:
Source: @alicebleathman_/TikTok
Have you ever encountered a similar situation while camping with your pets? Share your stories and tips for keeping our furry friends safe in the great outdoors in the comments below.
.png){kind=icon}
Hope they washed his gob out with doggy mouthwash before they kissed him.
