A Glasgow dog owner has issued a warning after her beloved pet was rushed to the emergency vet after eating rat poison.
Laura McLaughlin had her dog, Brandi, out on their usual walk around the park area next to their flat in Broomhill, but when they returned home Laura realised something wasn't right.
The six-year-old pooch was not her usual self and experienced diarrhoea in their home which was abnormal for the well-trained dog.
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Laura, 34, told Glasgow Live: "We went out our kind of usual walk near our house, it's all a public area so we use it quite often. But when we got home Brandi wouldn't eat her food or drink, which was so unusual for her as she's a total gannet.
"She was acting really strangely, like she was tripping in and out of a daze, and she was so quiet - which, was completely not like her as she's a springer spaniel and usually full of beans. She was really clingy as well and I just knew it wasn't right."
Laura rushed Brandi to the emergency vets where she was told it was likely that she had eaten rat poison as her gums were blue. Brandi was kept in overnight and put on fluids, with Laura given a long list of expensive probiotics to help treat her.
Brandi was soon allowed home but was still not like her usual self and was very lethargic, leaving Laura angry that her pup had had to go through such a horrible experience.
Laura added: "She hates the vets, I think every dog does but she was just so unwell. It's horrible because people assume they're just pets but they're not, they're family.
"I've gone through some hard times recently and she really is my best friend, I just love her to bits. I really thought I was going to lose her, I was really emotional.
"I've now heard that this has happened before in the area and it's ridiculous, you shouldn't have to worry about rat poison in a local, family area."
A spokesman for the council said: “We are very sorry to hear about this distressing incident. Scattering poison in an uncontrolled way in a public place is reckless and puts all animals at risk of harm.
“Our pest control team has received no reports in relation Broomhill Community Park and has undertaken no interventions in this space.
“If it was necessary to lay bait in an open space it would be done in line with appropriate safety checks with poison contained within tailored bait boxes that are designed to allow access for rodents only.
“We have liaised with the member of public on where the poison might have been ingested by their pet and we will do everything we can to ensure the poison is safely removed.”
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