Gemma Atkinson shares update on family member after fiancé Gorka Marquez left in tears over worrying incident
Actress Gemma Atkinson has shared an update about her and fiancé Gorka Marquez’s family puppy, who sparked concern about being rushed to the vets on Wednesday.
The couple are known to be dog lovers and heartbreakingly lost two pooches last year before welcoming Goldendoodle Benji just weeks ago.
On Wednesday, Strictly Come Dancing star Marquez shared a tearful selfie on social media as he told fans he’d had to take Benji to the vets after he spent the last couple of days being unwell.
The 34-year-old dancer wrote alongside the snap: “Many of you messaged asking how is Benji doing.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t get better, so this AM I had to take him back to the vets and leave him there to do scans and end up having surgery.”
The Spanish dancer followed up with a photograph showing tears streaming down his face, adding: “It breaks my heart seeing him like that and to leave him there.”
Fortunately, Atkinson was able to share a more cheerful update on Thursday, posting a photo of herself with Benji, who was wearing a bandage and a post-surgery vest.
She explained: “Turned out Benji had eaten a dummy teat, which had caused a blockage in his intestine. Scary stuff, but apparently very common in puppies to eat random things. He’s home and getting plenty of rest and cuddles.
“I left London early to dash home when I heard the word ‘we need to operate’.
“Thank you to Claire and the @womenshealthuk team for understanding. I know it wasn’t ideal, but I had to get home.
“I’d forgotten this part of having pets, where you worry yourself sick when they get unwell. Thank you to Medivets in Ramsbottom as well for being so brilliant and taking such good care of him.”
She followed up with a video thanking social media followers for their support over the last couple of days.
“Thank you for all your messages as well, wishing him well, really kind of you,” she said.
“Genuinely, when strangers are so thoughtful about your little dog, it’s so lovely. And that’s the good bit of the internet, isn’t it?
“There is still good. People have messaged – one lady messaged me, her dog ate the insole of a shoe, the whole insole.
“My friend Jane told me yesterday her spaniel’s recovering from surgery at the minute from eating the inside of a tennis ball. One ate a chicken skewer, still on the stick, needed surgery.
“What else have we had? Socks. It’s bizarre. Why? Like you have such lovely food and treats.
“Why do you need to eat that? But yeah, the dummies now… I’m going to get him a clip for his dummies because I’m just panicking about everything now.”
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Benji seemed to be in great spirits, though, with Atkinson also sharing a clip of the puppy happily sniffing around the garden.
She wrote alongside the clip: “Tail high and wet nose”.