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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 28th November 2018
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High chair saves Labrador with rare condition
Since using his new chair, Buck has managed to keep all his food down.

Buck’s life was in danger as a result of ‘mega-oesophagus’ 

A young Labrador with the life-threatening condition ‘mega-oesophagus’ has been saved thanks to a special high chair, which was designed and built by a vet and product design lecturer.

Seventeen-month-old Buck struggles to swallow enough food as a result of his condition. He weighed just half what he should at his age when he arrived at Team Edward Labrador Rescue in the East Midlands.

Specially-made chairs can help dogs with this rare condition, by sitting them upright when they eat, but none could be sourced in time for Buck.

Fortunately, a social media post prompted vet Emma Drinkall and her fiancé Nick Rowan, a product design lecturer, to create a high chair for Buck in less than 48 hours. The pair will continue to adapt the chair as Buck gains weight and grows in future.

Buck’s condition means that most of the food he consumes gets stuck in pouches in the oesophagus or is regurgitated. Dogs with this condition are at risk of developing very serious - and potentially fatal - chest infections.

Since using his new chair, however, Buck has managed to keep all his food down. He is now on a high calorie puppy diet to help him put on weight and gain strength.

University of Nottingham vet, Emma Drinkall, said: “We saw Buck’s story on social media, and I knew we just had to do something if he was going to have a chance. Luckily Nick and I have the combined expertise and experience to build the chair quickly.

“There is currently no surgery available for dogs with this condition, and as Buck is already receiving the medications that can help, the one other thing that could help him keep his food down is gravity itself. Being upright while feeding will help the food drip through the sphincter that controls access to his stomach.”

Wendy Hopewell, who runs the Team Edward charity, added: “It was just the most fabulous sight to see Buck eating in the chair and happy to be in it. To see how he sat in it straight away and get stuck in was incredible, it just pulls at your heartstrings.”

Buck image © Emma Drinkall
X-ray image © Team Edward

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
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NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.