Your local vet near Rodd Point

Rodd Point is only about a 5 minute drive from our hospital at 10 Ramsay Road, Five Dock. With the picnic areas and BBQs along Henley Marine Drive and beautiful views across to Rodd Island, Rodd Park is one of the most popular spots on the peninsula for a weekend family lunch, and the local dogs know it!

Picnics and BBQs are great fun for the whole family, but they are also one of the most common reasons we see dogs with upset tummies, especially on long weekends and over the summer holidays.

My dog ate BBQ scraps. Should I be worried?

A small bite of plain sausage is unlikely to cause problems, but fatty foods like sausages, lamb chops, bacon, fat trimmings and gravy can trigger pancreatitis in dogs. Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas that can make dogs very unwell. Signs include vomiting, a sore tummy (some dogs stretch out in a "praying" position), not wanting to eat and being flat. If your dog shows these signs after getting into BBQ food, please call us.

What should I do if my dog swallowed a corn cob or a bone?

Please call us straight away. Corn cobs are one of the most common causes of a blocked intestine that we see, as they don't break down and are just the right size to get stuck. Cooked bones can splinter and damage the throat, stomach or intestines. Shish kebab skewers, toothpicks and the string used to tie roasts can also cause serious problems. If it was eaten recently, we may be able to make your dog vomit it back up, and we can use our digital x-rays and ultrasound to see if something is stuck. If surgery is needed, we can operate in our own theatre.

Which picnic foods are toxic to dogs?

Along with fatty and bony foods, keep these well away from your dog at picnics and parties:

• Chocolate and chocolate desserts
• Grapes, raisins, sultanas and fruit cake
• Onion and garlic, including in marinades, dips and stuffing
• Foods sweetened with xylitol, which can be found in some sugar free lollies, gum and baked goods
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol

Tips for a pet friendly picnic

Pack some of your dog's own treats so they don't feel left out, keep a close eye on the bin, and ask guests (especially children) not to share their food. Once the BBQ is finished, pack up food scraps and skewers straight away, before a curious nose finds them.