At first glance, it almost looked as if the X-ray itself had malfunctioned.
The dog's head seemed to be covered in tiny spots, like a swarm of small insects circling the area.
The terrifying realisation
Sharing the images to Facebook group I Love Veterinary Medicine, the vet explained that the dog had originally come in because of dark spots on their gums.
X-ray results revealed something nobody expected.
Heartbreakingly, the spots were not insects or a technical malfunction- they were pellets, embedded in the dog after being shot by a human.
A familiar story
It seems for many dogs, that this is an all too familiar story.
Fellow veterinarians and rescue workers commented on the post, sharing what they had witnessed first-hand.
Maybe everyone should know how many of our dogs are full of birdshot, explained a viewer. "It's how they shoot them off the property when they are either no longer wanted/ needed or they are lost/ abandoned to begin with".
"I've seen several hunting dogs inadvertently shot by their owners while actually out hunting", wrote another. "Most of them do surprisingly well as long as no major organs are hit".
We just hope the pup in question is now safe and loved by a family of their own.
