A family has expressed their gratitude to vet charity PDSA for saving their pet dog, Mazikine, after it ingested 14 screws that had fallen onto the floor during a DIY project.
Lola Mai-Wellington, 32, realised something was amiss when their four-year-old Cane Corso cross, Mazikine, started vomiting screws and blood.
The concerned owner discovered that the screws, which had been knocked onto the floor while putting up a shelf, had been unknowingly swallowed by the dog.
Immediately taking action, she rushed Mazikine to the PDSA pet hospital in Portsmouth, where the canine underwent a crucial operation to remove the screws. The cost of the procedure, amounting to £887, was generously covered by the charity.
Recalling the incident, Ms Mai-Wellington, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, said: “My husband and I were in the process of converting the area under our stairs into a dog kennel for Mazikine. The pot of screws was on a shelf in there and someone must have knocked it off onto the floor, without us realising."
Unbeknownst to the family, Mazikine had already spotted the screws before they were swept up. Later that evening, when the dog began vomiting, their worst fears were confirmed. Ms. Mai-Wellington immediately reached out to PDSA and rushed Mazikine to their care.
PDSA veterinary surgeon Emily Sharp said: "When Mazikine arrived at the Pet Hospital, she had already vomited up eight screws. We immediately admitted her for sedation and x-rays, which showed she had a further six screws - five in her stomach and one in her intestine."
Given the potential for serious internal damage, such as stomach and intestinal tears, the decision to proceed with immediate surgery was clear.
Ms Mai-Wellington expressed her gratitude towards the charity, acknowledging that without their assistance, covering the operation's costs would have been impossible.
She said: "If we had taken Maz to a private vet, and didn’t have insurance, it would have cost too much. We couldn’t have afforded to pay the full cost of Maz's treatment. I think about money constantly. We have to budget carefully and work out where money is going each month."
Despite the financial constraints, the family considers Mazikine an integral part of their lives, supporting each other through difficult times.
Ms Mai-Wellington said: "Maz has helped our family through so much and we'd do anything for her. Despite being named after a devilish character in the TV show Lucifer, in reality, Mazikine is a gentle giant."
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