A vet in Leeds has issued an urgent warning to dog owners after an incident where a dog nearly died chasing a stick.
Beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Jess was rushed to Beechwood Vets in Crossgates after she got a foot-long stick lodged down her throat.
The stick had made its way into her chest, nearly puncturing her heart and arteries - missing them just narrowly.
The incident occurred whilst she was out walking with her owner, Emma Shaw, in the fields close to their home in Swarcliffe.
Emma had thrown a stick for her, but whilst chasing it Jess jumped up - only to land on the stick after it became stuck in the ground. It then went down her throat and got lodged in her oesophagus - leaving her requiring emergency life-saving surgery.
With Jess crying out and yelping, Emma went to see what was going on - but there was no sign of the stick. Suspecting a leg injury. she carried her home before taking her to the vets.
It wasn't until a clinical exam was carried out by the team at Beechwood that they discovered the stick was lodged in her throat.
Surgical director James Tate operated, but owner Emma was warned that Jess may not survive.
Dr Tate said: “Jess had a huge bulge sticking out of her neck and we had to act quickly as we were worried about an internal bleed because there are so many blood vessels around the neck.
It's not the first time such an incident has occurred, according to Mr Tate, and in the past the endings haven't always been so happy.
“It is incredible how the stick had not caused more damage to Jess because it had gone straight down her throat," he continued.
“Dogs have a natural instinct to play with sticks, but it can be so dangerous. My advice to all dog owners is never to throw sticks."
Feature image -
News
Leeds has been crowned the UK’s spiciest city, according to new research
With National Curry Week just around the corner, new research has revealed which UK cities like their food with a kick.
The outcome? Leeds has come out firmly on top.
The research, carried has been out by Britsuperstore, analysed TripAdvisor data to find the UK cities with the highest concentration of restaurants serving some of the world’s most flavour-packed cuisines, including Indian, Thai, Caribbean, Mexican, Korean and Ethiopian food.
And it seems us Leeds lot aren't afraid of a little bit of spice, with the city boasting 51.33 spicy-cuisine restaurants per 100,000 people. Now that's a lot of spice.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
That puts Leeds ahead of Bath and Oxford, which take second and third place respectively, as the cities with the highest concentration of restaurants serving cuisines known for their fiery flavours.
At the other end of the scale, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne has been named the UK’s mildest city, with just 7.14 spicy-cuisine restaurants per 100,000 people.
The top 10 spiciest cities in the UK are:
Leeds
Bath
Oxford
Edinburgh
Bristol
York
Cardiff
London
Swansea
Sheffield
And we can't say we're particularly surprised, as here in Leeds our diverse food scene is very impressive indeed. From iconic Indian street food at Bundobust to Kerala-inspired small plates at Kerala Canteen, there's a spicy dish for everyone to enjoy in and around the city.
So, whether you're someone who orders Extra Hot at Nandos or prefers to keep things firmly on the milder side, Leeds looks like the place to be when it comes to getting your spice fix.
A new açai cafe promising to be Leeds’ ‘neighbourhood social club’ is opening soon
Clementine Hall
An independent açai bowl pop-up is opening a permanent cafe in Leeds city centre.
It seems the açai bowl trend isn't over just yet, and we're absolutely not mad about it.
The aesthetically purple frozen treat isn't just delicious, but is also known to have numerous health benefits making it guilt-free and the perfect post-workout pick me up.
You may remember Açai Social Club that opened as a pop-up in the Victoria Quarter last year, and now they're moving into a permanent spot in the city centre.
Run by a lovely husband and wife duo who have spent the last 15 months exploring cafes around the world, it's safe to say they know exactly what they're talking about.
Their açai is made with the very best ingredients, topped with the freshest fruit and sprinkled with their homemade granola - it doesn't get much better then that does it?
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, they said: "Açai Social Club is getting a home. Our very first store is officially on the way! We’ve been working behind the scenes to create a space that’s more about than just açai.
"What started as an idea is finally becoming something you can walk into…There’s still a lot we’re keeping under wraps for now, but we’re so excited to finally share the beginning of what’s to come.
"We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you in. Your new neighbourhood social club, coming soon."
The exact location of the cafe and its opening date is still under wraps, but we'll of course keep you updated as and when we find out.
Georgina Pellant -
9th September 2021 
