A poorly pooch had to have her stomach pumped after picking up an old tennis ball and ingesting “adhesive” powder hidden inside.
Dog trainer András Marosi, from Leith, is warning owners about the hidden dangers in certain balls after he had to rush his rescue dog Alba to the vet.
He initially feared the four-year-old pooch had been poisoned after she picked up the toy in Edinburgh’s Meadowfield Park and became covered in a sticky white paste.
The frantic owner bundled his pet off to the vets, who confirmed the substances was the result of the powdery insides of the tennis ball reacting with water.
Alba's stomach was then "milked" to get any adhesive out of her system and she was eventually allowed to return home.
Now András, who runs ND-GO Pet Services, has taken to Facebook to warn others of the dangers.
He posted a photo of the chewed up tennis ball and explained: “Her muzzle and her paw were covered with that white stuff that I couldn’t get off.
“It smells like paint, but it’s sticky like an adhesive.
“I drove her to the vet straight away as I thought someone placed it on purpose. So many similar cases were reported recently.
“It turned out some of these balls are actually filled with some kind of white powder instead of gas.
“I’ve never come across with this before.
“When this powder contacts water it turns into this sticky paste.
“The vet milked her tummy out so she’s fine.
He is now urging owners to "watch out" when giving their pets toys to play with.
Speaking today, András, 42, said: "As she was ripping up the ball, she ingested some paste. I was worrying, I drove her to the vet straight away.
"tennis balls are actually not recommended at all, as the mineral crystals from the mud and soil stick on the hairy outer coating of the ball and wear off the teeth badly."
Alba’s ordeal prompted concern from other social media users.
Jill Hume wrote: “What a worry! So glad Alba is okay.”
Ian Tickle added: “That is a heart stopper.”
And Trish Duffy said: “So glad Alba's okay András, have been desperate to message you.”
