Pet survives after unusual meal

A bearded dragon named Stubby has provided an usual case for a Suffolk veterinary practice, after he ate a shard of glass in the back garden.

The 4cm long jagged shard was shown clearly in an X-ray but the practice was unable to operate and Stubby soon complicated matters by refusing to take oral medication. The only option was to let nature take its course and, after 10 days, Stubby passed the glass without mishap.

James Whittle, the vet who examined the bearded dragon, said: After a less than satisfactory general anaesthesia and x-ray, the lizard was woken up and sent home.

"We had not other choice really as we couldn't operate, so after consulting a referral practice it was decided to just let the glass pass naturally. I had been concerned about peritonitis, but as he wouldn't take any antibiotics by mouth, there was nothing else we could do."

He added: "After about four days I rang to check how he was getting on and he had still not passed the glass. However, 10 days later the owners came in with the piece of glass to tell me that Stubby was doing fine."